The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc. (Chris Jenkins)

Ari and Chris are joined by long-time TEC Talk supporter Hardy Kern to talk about his role at the Columbus Zoo, his connection to both current and former NEI staff members, working alongside Jack Hanna, and the joy with creating "defining moments" for zoo guests. He also talks about how he became known as "The Wig Guy," and turns the tables on the hosts by interviewing them. Hey, only seems fair when you've submitted as many questions to the show as he has!

Have a question or topic of discussion for the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Flannery O'Brien returns along with fellow former NEI-er Kevin Zimmer to discuss life after leaving the animal field. They talk about the ways their animal experience helped prepare them for the "real world," about adapting to not just being "the animal person," and give advice to those who might be thinking about making a similar transition for themselves.

And if you liked Growvember and Enrichmas, wait till you hear about Loveuary and Hatepril.

Questions? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

Ari takes over hosting duties and is joined by the Board of IAATE! Cassie Malina, Helen Dishaw, Miguel Santos, and Steve Martin share their personal histories with IAATE, reflect on the way the organization has grown and evolved over the years, and share a little bit about "how the sausage is made" as they spill some of the deets on the upcoming 2022 conference. 

Not a member of IAATE? You should be! Get on that at www.iaate.org! 

Have a question, something you'd like to share, or a topic you'd like us to discuss? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

Ari is busy getting ready to visit our team in Rhode Island, so this week Chris is joined by returning co-host Adam Geltz to welcome back to the show two of our favorite people in the animal care world, Shelby Jecius and Kyle Alexander from Bearizona Wildlife Park! The four of us chat about their recent experience of moving from being supervisors into mid-level management, the important influence their leaders have had on the leaders they want to become, how working more (on the right things) can help prevent burnout, and the importance of remembering that there are better places to be miserable than in the animal care field. We like you, Shelby and Kyle! 

Oh, and Bearizona COO Dave O'Connell (who makes a brief appearance) is pretty cool too, we guess. 

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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This episode is brought to you by Magic Mind! To learn more about the world's first mental performance shot and get up to 48% off your first order, go to https://www.magicmind.com/tectalkpod and enter the code TECTALKPOD20 at checkout. Thanks, Magic Mind!

Chris and Ari are joined by NEI President and CEO Steve Martin to talk about his history with Earth Day, the importance of conservation, and the history of our non-profit sister organization, the Natural Encounters Conservation Fund. We also chat about NEI TEC's "Trust Week" webinars and respond to an email about team building in the guide dog training community. 

To learn more about NEI and NECF, visit us at http://www.naturalencounters.com and http://www.necfund.org. 

In one of the best and most random episodes we're ever recorded, Chris and Ari are joined by game dev consultant Joe Quadara! After reading a bit about Joe's history in the video game industry, Chris reached out to see if he wanted to talk to a few bird trainers about building high-functioning teams and successfully sharing critical feedback with others. We talk about how healthy competition can breed camaraderie, the importance of replacing "no, and here's why..." with "yes, if...", and benefit of not being afraid to "kill your babies." Who knew that the video game and professional animal care industries had so many things in common???

To read a sample from Jason Schreier's book Press Reset: Ruin and Recovery in the Video Game Industry, click here.

For more information about Richard Lemarchand's new book A Playful Production Process, click here. 

Got a question or an idea for a future episode of the show? Drop us at email at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Two hosts is fun, but what if we just invited...everyone?!? This week's episode is a pilot for a concept we've been kicking around for awhile of opening up the show to anyone who wants to attend the live recording and add their thoughts and questions and talk about the emails we got in real time. We get into fun discussions of whiskey brands, how best to describe NEI's "training style," additional ideas for the zoo we built last week (see Episode 78 for more information), and kick around ideas for "welfare shows." 

Also, Chris talks about Keanu Reeves for some reason. 

Special thanks to all who attended, and to Scott Trauger and Ellen Matza for being my on-the-fly co-hosts while Ari enjoys her birthday vacation with her family!

Have any feedback for us on this experiment? Have something you'd like us to discuss in a future episode? Do YOU want to be on the show? You can do all this and more by emailing us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris sits down with NEI Senior Trainer Lisa Haggadone to talk about her experience as an animal trainer AND mom during this wonderful second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that we all find ourselves in. As kids go back to school in Central Florida this week, we talk about the trials and tribulations of classroom outbreaks, the delicate nature of dealing with vaccine hesitancy, balancing personal rights and community responsibilities, inconsistent messaging on guidelines from different levels of government, the importance of flexibility and a good support system, and teaching mask-wearing to someone who just wants to put everything in their mouth. 

Do you want to share your experience with balancing parenthood with your career, or have anything else you'd like us to talk about on the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

After some discussion about what "reopening" our country might mean for those of us in the zoological industry, Ari and Chris share their "Top 10" (ok, really only 4) moments from their history working for Natural Encounters, Inc. We wrap up by responding to an email asking about advice for people looking to get into the field, and our company's push to have its employees be a part of the leadership of professional animal training and behavior organizations.   

Ari and Chris welcome Jennie Janssen (National Aquarium, MIASZ) back to the show to share her take - and a great new initiative from MIAZS (Minorities in Aquarium and Zoos Sciences) - relating to the challenge our field is facing of creating the leaders of tomorrow. 

References from the episode:

MIAZS - Minorities in Aquarium and Zoo Sciences 

AMLAZ - Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums and Zoos

Understanding Barriers and Opportunities for Women and People of Color in Zoos, Aquariums, and Related Fields: A Research Initiative (Full Report, Executive Summary, and Infographics)

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

Two hosts for two epsiodes in a row? Amazing! After an update from Ari about the IAATE Midyear Meeting at the Peregine Fund, Chris opens a communication can o' worms by sharing his thoughts on the intersection of extreme weather, perception, intentions (and what it really means to "assume good ones"), and personal responsibility, which leads to a discussion about labels, defining what "being passive-aggressive" looks like, and how to deal with gaslighting... it's a lot! 

We'd love to hear our listeners' thoughts on these topics and more, and if you're so inspired we've made it east - just email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With Chris channeling the year our show was born by being knocked out by COVID, Ari takes the helm for the first podcast episode of the year to chat about all the new webinar, online course, and workshop offerings that NEI has on the books for 2025. Come hang out with us, it'll be a blast!

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris sit down with NEI Senior Trainer Adam Triska to chat about his first day of shows as our newest stage presenter at The Theme Park Which Must Not Be Named (#SG@AW)! Adam talks about the pre-NEI experiences that lead up to this new achievement, his process of going from learning the script to doing the show in front of an audience, how he felt before, during, and after his first show, and getting feedback on his performance from the senior staff at the stage. Hooray for personal and professional growth!

Have a question, a topic you'd like us to discuss, feedback you'd like to share, or an interest in being our guest on a future episode? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris is in Minnesota, but through the magic of technology he is joined, live via satellite from Texas, by Ari and NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk about the consulting work we're all doing this week and to answer a simple question: what's the coolest thing you saw today? 

Have a question for us? An idea for a future discussion topic? Want to share the coolest thing you saw today? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Fresh off his visit to NEI for AZA's Animal Training Applications course, Ari and Chris are joined by Tim Sullivan, Director of Behavioral Husbandry at Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo! Tim talks about his journey from being a "17 year old punk" to a member of zoo leadership, the important of "getting the $#%@ out of Brookfield" to learn from other institutions, balancing the role of the employee and the role of the employer in professional development, learning that training humans is a lot harder than training animals, and the importance of being a ray of sunshine in the lives of others. Incredible chat with an incredible leader in our field!

Have something you'd like us to discuss or a suggestion for someone you like to see join us on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

This time we're the guests! Ari and Chris join John Scott and the NYC chapter of AAZK to talk about guest interaction, improving relationships and communication, and the importance of creating "defining moments." 

Do you have a question, topic, or podcast invite for us? Drop us a line at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris and Ari catch each other up on their recently work travels in Minnesota and the Bahamas, discuss some special upcoming trips in the works for July, and share their go-to menu items from Taco Bell. Which Chris does from a Taco Bell parking lot. While eating Taco Bell. 

Life on the road, ya'll!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

Ari and Chris are super excited to be joined by animal trainer, author, and fellow podcaster, Dr. Grey Stafford! We sit down to chat about Grey's early days in the marine mammal world, his long-running (and HIGHLY recommended) podcast, Zoo Logic, the joy of playing host to what we consider the best discussion ever of the always-contentious topic of the LRS, and his passion for the role we can all play in shaping the future of our industry!

To listen to all the great episodes of the Zoo Logic podcast, check out the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast services around the globe. 

Have a question for us, or want to be on a future episode of the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

Chris is in Arkansas doing his best to dodge tornados, so this week Ari has the opportuntiy to sit down with the one and only Steve Martin (President/CEO of Natural Encounters, Inc.) to talk about one of his favorite training topics: control! They discuss what it is, how to utilize it as a reinforcer in training sessions, and how to give control away. Don't miss this deep dive into this important - and sometimes overlooked - primary reinforcers. 

Have a questions or something you'd like us to discuss on a future episode of the podcast? Let me know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

After some chat about quarantine life and some details on the new show NEI is about to open, Chris and Ari return to the discussion of some of their personal favorite "NEI Moments." And look at that, we actually rounded out a Top 10! Doesn't mean we can't do more in the future!

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Coming back to the show for his first full-episode guest spot, Ari and Chris welcome Jon Rossi to the show! Jon talks about how his world shutting down in 2020 led to the creation of the Rossifari Podcast, his adventures getting to meet the various members of the NEI crew, how a silly joke gone too far got NEI's Amy Fennell killed (spoiler alert: she's alive and part of this episode), the series of events that got him involved with the Red Panda Network, Penguins International, and the Aquarium of Niagara, how being married to a vet keeps him grounded, and why it's important for people to fall in love with their local zoos. 

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

On this episode, Ari chats with Tim Sullivan (Director of Behavioral Husbandry at Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo) about how to grow great keepers and animal care staff into great leaders. They discuss "that sticky spot" when your peers become your direct reports, how to manage expectations by doing some introspection, and examining what you can control, as well as Tim's experience with "rescuer syndrome" and how he's worked to help others without being the one to fix their problems. Great advice from a great human!

Do you have an idea for something we could discuss or someone we should invite on the show?Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

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This episode is also brought to you by Magic Mind! To learn more about the world's first Productivity Shottm and get 20% off your first order, go to https://www.magicmind.com/tectalk and enter the code TECTALK20 at checkout. Thanks, Magic Mind! 

Chris takes a pause from the madness of the week to walk his dog and share some of the details of what has been a very busy, very interesting week. 

Have something you'd like to ask us or have us discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

They said it couldn't be done: a "Tales from the Trailer" episode that also has a cool guest who's not from NEI! Chris is joined by National Aviary Senior Aviculturist Sylvia Ronquillo to talk about Wagnerian opera, ping ponging across the country to pursue new career opportunities, navigating family members who initially aren't on board with "the animal thing," and ideas about things we could do differently in our facilities to make them more diverse and inclusive. Super great chat!

Do you have a question for the show, or want to be a guest on a future episode? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With Chris busy teaching at NEI's Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop, Ari gets some coworker support and is joined by special co-host Adam Geltz and returning guest Shay Gruman! The three talk about how they've each been working on their personal and professional growth outside of NEI, reflecting on how breaking goals into smaller parts can help increase one's rate of reinforcement, the importance of building both active and passive skills, the gift we give others when we intervene less, and what continual growth looks like as people with different backgrounds that are currently in three different levels of the company.

References:

• Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott
• Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Grenny, Patterson, Et Al
• FYI: For Your Improvement - A Development and Coaching Guide by Michael Lombardo and Robert Eichinger
• The HealthyGamerGG Podcast with Dr. K
• The Animal Training Academy Podcast Show with Ryan Cartlidge
• Drinking From The Toiletby Hannah Brannigan
• Jocko Willink - Retired US Navy Seal, Author, Leadership Instructor

If you have an idea for how you can make our show better, you can let us know by filling out our quick, anonymous survey about our show at⁠https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tectalkpod⁠ until Feb 28, 2025.

Ari and Chris are joined by their good buddy and former coworker John Scott to talk about their shared history at NEI, our memories of our first shows as presenters at "that show in Central Florida" (wink wink), John's current job with WCS as a trainer at New York Aquarium, his graduate studies on educational messaging in animal shows, and his recent article on same-sex couples in the animal world. Super fun episode - we miss this guy!

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari sits down with Kimm Hunt, President of the International Animal Training Certification Board (IATCB), to dive into the IATCB certification exam—how it’s developed, maintained, and what it means for animal trainers. They also explore Kimm’s work with shelter dogs, tackling tough topics like behavioral euthanasia and the importance of understanding behavioral science to help all learners thrive.

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari hosts solo while Chris is...somewhere, but she's not alone! Natalie Sunray is our guest this week, currently interning at Metro Richmond Zoo, and feeling really excited about her future in the field! Ari chats with Natalie about how she plans to stay motivated as she follows her current career path by keeping a positive attitude and celebrating her colleagues' successes as she faces the many challenges that comes with starting life in an animal care role. 

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris are excited for the return of Kait Wiktor, Manager of Animal Behavior and Wellbeing at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium! Kait joins us to talk about her recent adventures through all things "Crucial": the resources and certification programs from Crucial Learning, the organization behind our favorite professional (and personal) development resource, Crucial Conversations. Kait walks us through the six sources of influence, the importance of opinion leaders, the vital role of deliberate practice, why its good to have a suitcase of interventions when troubleshooting behavior challenges, and why you shouldn't "avoid the chainsaw." 

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Chris and Ari are very excited to be joined by Shannon McKinney and Hannah Fulmer from GRAZE (Growing Resiliency for Aquarium and Zoo Professionals)! After a bit of background about their histories in the animal care field and how it lead to the formation of GRAZE, Shannon and Hannah help us dig into a lot of great topics: the importance of taking responsibility for one's mental health, looking at the "other side of the coin" to talk about things like "post traumatic growth" and "compassion satisfaction," the important role that emotions (all 200 of them) play relating to behavior, why to avoid "shoulding on yourself," the differnence between managing emotions and being emotional, how strong relationships with an animal can hurt them in the long term, and the problem of equating your worth with your accomplishments. So much great information, and we can't wait to have them back to talk about even more!

To learn more about the work that GRAZE does in the professional animal care field, visit their website at https://zoomentalhealthsupport.com/. 

Have a question for us? Some feedback about something on the show?A suggestion for a topic you'd like us to discuss? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

We made it! Chris and Ari sit down with Steve Martin to chat about the history of the TEC Talk podcast, to reflect on the special contributions sent in by some of the past presenters from our TEC Talks webinars, and to share our hopes for the future of our industry. 

Big thank yous go out to Ann Brooks, Wouter Stellaard, Rick Hester, Dr Susan Friedman, Amy Fennell, Tim Van Loan, and Marty MacPhee for contributing to this episode!

Have a question or an idea for a topic for one of our next 100 episodes? Drop us a line at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

After discussing scent-based side hustles and the joys of trusting strangers on the internet, Chris and Ari tackle a common belief in animal training: that you should always end a training session on a positive note. With an outdated edition of Don't Shoot the Dog as our companion, we discuss the ways in which striving to always end on a "good note" can limit an animal's voice in the training dialog, set you back in your shaping plan, and even damage relationships. Luckily, we also discuss how redefining what "a good note" looks like can also increase motivation, shorten training sessions, and improve relationships. Isn't behavior amazing?

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris are excited to be joined by Jennie Janssen, Assistant Curator at National Aquarium and President and Co-Founder of Minorities in Aquarium and Zoo Science (MIAZS)! Jennie shares her history in the aquarium industry, how a case of mistaken identity helped reinforce a lack of diversity in the field, and how her non-profit is providing a resource for people at all levels to help make the professional animal care world a more open, inviting, and equitable place for everyone. 

To find out more about MIAZS and the resources avaialble through them, visit miazs.org or email contactmiazs@miazs.org. 

Want to suggest a topic for a future show? Have a question you'd like us to answer? Want to join us on the show as a guest? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With Chris on a top secret mission for NEI, Ari goes solo to reflect on the insanity of the last week, to share some things she's excited about, and to reflect on the joy (and importance) of being alone. Oh, and she does some dog training at the same time!

Do you have a question, idea for a show topic, or want to be on the podcast so we're not too lonely? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With Ari on assignment in Nebraska, Chris sits down to chat with Jessica Ruiz, frequent podcast emailer and Aviary Education Specialist at Grey Snow Eagle House. We talk about Jessica's path that lead her to her current role working with birds of prey, her history with IAATE, and the changes and practices her work place has gone through to navigate through the pandemic. Stick around till the end where I ask her to evaluate our show - if anyone knows it better than we do, it's Jessica!

If you'd like to learn about Grey Snow Eagle House, you can visit http://eagles.iowanation.org/. For more resources for improving self care and dealing with compassion fatigue, visit https://jessicadolce.com/resources/. 

Have a question for us, a topic for discussion, or want to be on a future episode of the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

After a quick review of the 2022 NEI Holiday Party, Chris and Ari chat about the importance of specificity when praising and recognizing others, the line between social niceities and behavor strengthening, and the problems with the statement "just let me know if there's anything I can do to help." 

To learn more about the upcoming IAATE talk on Raptor Center Culture, please visit http://www.iaate.org.

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Please let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Want to know more about what control can look like for the animals you work with? This is the episode for you! Ari and Chris are joined by Khaz Brooks and Ryan Talbot to talk about the work they did with (what they learned was) assent training at Wolf Park. They share how research into ABA and control gave them new language for giving their wolves a stronger voice in their training, how higher level training isn't as "magical" as it sometimes looks (it's about effort!), the joy of giving animals new skillsets, and the value of finding your fellow nerds. 

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

References from the episode: 

An Introduction to Cooperative Care for Canines - Big Bad Rescue Network

Foundations of of Preemptive Compassion: A Behavioral Concept Analysis of Compulsion, Consent, and Assent (Linnehan et al., 2023)

Can There Be Compassion Without Assent? A Nonlinear Constructional Approach (Abdel-Jalil et al., 2023)

The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to welcome Kaitlyn Bohnet and BJ Rice from North Sky Raptor Sanctuary to the show! We chat with Kaitlyn and BJ about how they got involved with their current roles, their team's epic track suits that stole the show at the IAATE Icebreaker, why it's a strength to come to the animal field later in life with different skill sets, the importance of not being "gatekeep-y", why retail experience makes you a better person, and the joy of having the privledge of helping animals learn how to learn - an awesome conversation with two very awesome people!

To learn more about the work of North Sky Raptor Sanctuary, visit them online at https://www.northskyraptor.org.

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

It's "Round 2" as we welcome back studio director, video game dev consultant, and all-around rad dude Joe Quadara! Ari and Chris sit down with Joe to discuss the broad topic of growth for teams and for individuals: the awkwardness and opportunities of the interview process, things that get missed during onboarding, the importance of niches and promotions that don't lead to management roles, and the joy of being the dumbest person in the room. 

Do you have a question about behavior, animal training, or anything else very much unrelated to those two things? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

After a bit of reminiscing over their "holiday drywalls," Ari and Chris share some of the fun new ideas they'll be trying out for the show in 2023. Stay tuned - and glued to our Facebook page - to find out more, and we hope you'll all come along for the ride!

Have a question, a topic you'd like us to discuss, or a book you'd like like us to tackle for our new book club? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris chat about our field's favorite term that's not actually a word - Choice and Control! They discuss what they are, how they're related, and what they mean for animal care before digging into what they mean when applied to the humans that work on our teams. So many great things to dig into here - learned helplessness, the illusion of choice, the problem with "over-democratizing decisions," and communicating expectations are just some of the many fun things we touch on - turns out being a person on planet Earth with other people is a lot, ya'll!

Have a question or topic you like us to discuss, or a suggestion for someone you think should be a guest on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

Ari is back in town, so we play catch up using a new recording setup in our freshly renovated office - who knew taking down a wall and moving some desks around could make such a difference? Ari fills us in on her recent trip to Caldwell Zoo, which leads to a conversation about the things that have surprised us as we've taken on the role of consultants for NEI. Who knew "not working" for 12 hours a day could be so exhausting?

Have a question for us, or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

After a quick discussion of sea turtles and supper clubs, Ari and Chris use a recent "what do I need to buy for my first animal job?" post on the internet as a prompt to share our personal "can't live without" items for working at NEI.

Hats? Check.

Glasses? Check.

Wildly different opinions on footwear brands? Check!!!

Are there any "must have" items in YOUR collection that you'd like to share with the rest of the class? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

References: 

Ari's favorite belt from Amazon can be found here.

To learn more about Keen's footwear discount program for animal care professionals, visit http://www.keenfootwear.com/pro.

Hello, 2024! You are 4 days old and full of hope, and will be using you as an opportunity to make New Year's Resolutions. If you find yourself in this boat, Ari shares a few ideas in this episode to help you on a path to succeed at whatever goal you set for yourself through the use of positive reinforcement. And hey, Chris jumps in with some thoughts too! We wish everyone a healthy and happy year ahead filled with accomplished goals! You can do it, because you're awesome! 

Reference: CBT Techniques to Keep Your Resolutions for 2024 - Cognative Behavioral Therapy Los Angeles 

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

In our continuing quest to collect the entire AZA Professional Development Committee on the show, we're excited to be joined by Jennifer Charette, Zoo Community Impact Manager at Tessere! Jen shares her unique path from birthday party host to zoo industry professional, the importance of committee service and understanding your "resource engine", how defining her "horizon job" got her to where she is today, why everyone should have an IDP, and why we should probably all let people lean into what they're good at instead of having to fit inside a box. 

Also, make sure to stick around until the end to find out the answer to the question: "so....why 'hedgehog'?"

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

While Ari is away, Chris does his best to discuss one of the hottest topics in the companion parrot world: to free fly, or not to free fly? It's a big subject with a lot of moving parts, and it gives Chris the opportunity to discuss the challenges with dealing with absolutes, different views of what constitutes good animal welfare, the importance of flight in the early life of a bird, different definititions of what the phrase "free-flight" even means, and some things that we believe make a bird a good (or bad) candidate as a free-flier. 

We'd love to hear our listeners' thoughts on this subject - or anything else you want to talk to us about - and you share those thoughts at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris sit down for our 30th episode to discuss a very special time at NEI - Growvember! We give some backstory on this month-long commitment to staff growth and development, share some examples of little things that our team does to help keep each other engaged and learning, and introduce everyone to the greatest game ever: Dragon's Talon!

Have feedback, a question, or a topic for a future episode? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris reconvene in their office to discuss Don't Shoot the Dog's Ten Laws of Shaping! Having not read the book in years, we were interested to look at Karen Pryor's ten suggestions for successful shaping through the filter of our current training practices and understanding of the science of behavior change. Because we can talk forever about this stuff we only get through the first 3, so this is the first episode in a new TEC Talk mini-series - how fun is that?

(Also, we're making it clear right now that we own "DRSA" as a training term since we coined it in this episode. You can't have it. So there.)

This time we share our thoughts on the following:

1. Raise criteria in increments small enough so that the subject always has a realistic chance for reinforcement.
2. Train one thing at a time; don't try to shape for two criteria simultaneously.
3. Always put the current level of response onto a variable schedule of reinforcement before adding or raisining criteria. 

Have thoughts to share about the Ten Laws of Shaping, or anything else you'd like to share? Please do so by emailing us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris and Ari are reunited by the power of the internet, and they're joined by NEI Senior Trainer Dan Blair! Dan shares his history with NEI and how improv made him a better stage presenter before all three get into an in-depth discussion about trust accounts and their implications for animal training, human relationships, and taking responsibility for being a better person.

Do you have any stories about how you've made deposits in a trust account to improve a strained relationship? Share your tips with us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Welcome to the TEC Talk Podcast, with your host, Aaron Rose! Aaron asked to take over the podcast so he could grill Ari and Chris about how much we know about each other, and who are we to say no to someone who wants to do our job? Turns out we know a lot - but not everything - and that answering the questions of a 12-year-old are a really good way to make you feel really, really old. Hope everyone likes '90s references!

Do you have a question, a topic for discussion, or an Aaron-esque desire to take over our show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

We're back! With Ari on the mend, we get together (virtually) to assign some "Winter Break Homework" for everyone: our recommendations for articles, books, hobbies, and hopes for the new year! Bye bye 2021! 

Links for all the stuff and things: 

What's Wrong with this Picture? Effectiveness is Not Enough - by Dr Susan Friedman

Blazing Clickers - by Steve Martin and Dr Susan Friedman

What It's Like To Be A Bird - by David Allen Sibley

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking - by Susan Cain

Drinking from the Toilet (Episode 118): Reinforcing Diversity with Ken Ramirez

You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes (Episode 217): Deepak Chopra

Recommended Episodes of OUR show:

• Episode 37: Q and A and Q (with Hardy Kern)
• Episode 84: Leveling Up Your Work Culture (with Joe Quadara)
• Episode 85: Birdability! (with Virginia Rose)

Finding Your Wings: A Workbook for Beginning Bird Watchers - by Peterson Field Guides)

The Great British Baking Show - on Netflix

A Beginner's Guide to Gunpla - by Bluefin Brands

The Headspace Guide to Sleep - on Netflix

Do you have something cool to recommend for people to check out? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com

Chris and Ari are melting in Central Florida, but luckily they're joined by some very cool people in a much cooler climate - Dan Blair, Meg Meyer, Kayla Rowand, Brianna Thorson, and Laurel Mochinski (along with special guest start Cori Dawson) from Minnesota Zoo's World of Birds Show (Presented by Wings Financial)! We get to discuss the team's experience booting up a brand new show from scratch, Laurel's history with the bird show dating back to when it was run by some guy named Steve Martin (sounds familiar...), speculations about the visitors' favorite birds, the restaurants and bars that the team still has to visit before the show run ends next month, and the white feathered wonder that is Coconut the Cockatoo. 

If there's a question you'd like us to answer, a topic you think we should discuss, or a guest you'd like to see on the show (even - and especially - if it's YOU), drop us an email at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

Ari sits down after the 2023 IAATE Conference Icebreaker with some of the amazing attendees and board members to talk about what they're looking forward to at this year's conference. They chat about fish behavior, turtle collanders, magical alligator trainers, carrot gavels, and PTSD (Peacock Trauma Swamp Disorder).

Big thank you to Marco Zeno, Kristin Dean, Erin Katzner, Josh Kuszmaul, Jose Bello, Helen Dishaw, and Kit Lacy for joining in the fun!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

You know what they say: you send Chris and Ari an email, you end up on the podcast. We're super happy to welcome Jeremiah Shon from John Ball Zoo to the show! Jeremiah is a recent NEI workshop attendee who reached out to share some cool training stuff that he and his team have been doing with their birds recently, so we brought him on the show to talk about how they put together their "group training program," the process of getting buy-in from people at all levels, the importance of seeing ourselves as scientists, and the value of recognizing when an idea you created doesn't belong to you anymore.    

Shout outs in this episode: Amy Fennell, Erin Moloney, Katelyn Ferringer, and Scott Trauger. Ya'll rock!

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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This episode is brought to you by Magic Mind! To learn more about the world's first mental performance shot and get up to 48% off your first order, go to https://www.magicmind.com/tectalkpod and enter the code TECTALKPOD20 at checkout. Thanks, Magic Mind!

Chris and Ari are joined by Zoo Miami director WIll Elgar! Will talks about his path from starting as an animal trainer in the UK to leadership roles in the US, the importance of pushing your limits and taking advantage of (sometimes scary) opportunities, thoughts on the challenge of trying to achieve "work-life balance", and the roles that listening, adapting, and creating challenges for himself have played in his personal growth. 

Do you have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Greetings from the future! Due to challenges with the space/time continuum, we're once again Ari-less this week, but it gives Chris the chance to reflect on his time in New Zealand with the awesome staff and animals of Hamilton Zoo, to dig into the ins and outs of choice paralysis during training sessions, and to discuss a fun new flow chart he built to answer that most basic (but important) of behavior questions: Is the animal doing what I want?

That's right, an audio discussion of a visual resource - woo hoo!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Please don't hesitate to let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

Ari has feedback on the brain - shout out to The Sea Stories Podcast (Apple Podcasts | Spotify) - so she sits down with Chris to talk about the ins of and out of how it applies to coaching people on how to coach others. We discuss the difference between coaching coaches you work with versus coaching coaches you've just met, when and how to offer feedback during a coaching session you're not in charge of, and the best advice we would give someone brand new to coaching other people. Coaching! 

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

 

With Chris stuck in traffic between work locations, Ari is joined by NEI's own Brittni Rice on the eve of her first anniversary with the company! Brittni shares her history in the field, the differences between working as a show trainer and a zoo keeper, the experience of being both a learner and a teacher, why she doesn't want to go back to marine mammal training anytime soon, and the joys of being our Unofficial Official Funtime Coordinator. 

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

It's an Ari solo-cast focused on being flexible! With COVID numbers going up once again, being flexible is as important as ever. Ari talks about being flexible on-stage for dealing with weather, as a leader, and in training sessions, all with the goal of keeping a level head, communicating clearly and calmly, and being able to reflect on decisions made in high-stress moments. 

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on a future episode? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

 

With Ari away at the 2021 ZAA Annual Conference, Chris is joined by "newly former" NEI Trainer Morgan Belle! This was Morgan's last week with the company, so we take some time to discuss how her love for science got her into the animal field, chat about the unique challenge that is "T5", talk about her exciting new role in bee conservation (!), and reflect on the decision that quite possibly lead to her dodging the bullet of becoming Mrs. Justin Bieber. 

Seriously. That's how cool Morgan is. 

Have a question, topic, or random celebrity story you'd like to bring to the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

200 episodes, how is that possible! Ari and Chris are joined by land and by sea by Steve Martin, Amy Fennell, Scott Trauger, Cori Dawson, Brad Moore, Michael Van Horne, Adam Geltz, Shayna Gruman, Natalie Sunray, Hunter Peck, and Kevin O'Brien to celebrate a very special podcast-iversary! We share some of out favorite episodes, memorable moments, and wishes for the future of show - thank you all for an amazing 4 years, and here's to another 200!

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

Ari and Chris are back at work, so welcome to the first episode recorded with our hosts in the same room! We discuss the non-work animals in our lives, how pet ownership and fostering has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and answer an email question about biosecurity for professional animal caretakers with  pets. Hope you like cats and dogs, because we talk about them a lot!

Do you have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

Chris and Ari FINALLY make time to sit down amidst the controlled chaos of a one of the most unique parts of bird training: a flyoff! We discuss what it looks like for us humans when our birds decide to fly... elsewhere. How do we find them? How do we get them back? And wait, don't we still have to do shows during all this??? All this and more will be discussed for your listening pleasure!

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

For our final show before we pass the 200 episode mark (wow!), Ari and Chris are joined by Margaret Rousser, former Conservation Manager at Oakland Zoo (and all-the-time awesome advocate for animals), to talk about the legacy of her groundbreaking talk, "Making Time for Psychological Wellbeing"! Margaret talks about her path through the animal care field (turns out she and Ari have some shared work history in more ways than one) before digging into the history behind her conference presentation that asked the question, "is all the time we spend cleaning and disinfecting our animals' living spaces actually doing them more harm than good?" This is a fascinating chat that is a must-listen for anyone in the professional animal care world!

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

---------------------------------

The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

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This episode is also brought to you by Magic Mind! To learn more about the world's first Productivity ShotTM and get 20% off your first order, go to https://www.magicmind.com/tectalk and enter the code TECTALK20 at checkout. Thanks, Magic Mind! 

Chris (INFP-A) and Ari (ENFP-A) sit down with NEI Supervisor Scott Trauger (ESTJ-T) to discuss the ins and outs of the "personality types" survey at the website 16Personalities.com. We discuss and compare the results of our personal surveys (and discuss a special 4th survey result at the end), and reflect on how our differences can make us all stronger. 

Have a question, idea for a future topic, or want to share the unexpected results from your own survey? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris and Ari sit six feet apart and talk about Ari's visit to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Chris' first trip to a restaurant since the beginning of the pandemic, and discuss your questions and feedback from email and Facebook! 

Do YOU have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

It's a cross-country matchup of "Bearizona East" (aka NEI) and "NEI West" (aka Bearizona) as Chris sits down with NEI Senior Trainer Katie Bello and Bearizona Program Animal Supervisors Amy Zimmerman and Kyle Alexander! We talk about how our project at Bearizona has evolved since its inception, how things are coming together now that our East Coast birds have been out west for about a month, and what everyone's most excited about for the future of this cool joint project. Thanks to Katie, Amy, and Kyle for letting me steal them on our lunch break to record this - now let's get back to work!

Do you have a question or topic you'd like us to cover on a future episode of the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris returns from his second bout with COVID-19 to join Ari in welcoming three cool people to the podcast, BirdTricks' Dave and Jamie Womach, and Master Falconer Daryl Peterson! We chat about the unusual path that took the Womachs from a traveling family on the road with Dave's work as a "thrillusionist" (see, we're not the only ones with crazy jobs!) to the founders of a company dedicated to "saving parrots one person at a time," to meeting up with Daryl to learn more about birds of prey and the risks they pose for free-flying parrots, to the epic tale of all three working together so that Dave could fly side-by-side in a wingsuit at 150mph with a gyr x peregrine falcon. 

Yep. That's a thing that really happened! And thanks to this chat, we get to learn all about what it took to make it work and how the bird, Scarlett, blew everyone away with her stamina and relationship with all the humans involved. 

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on a future episiode of the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Learn more about Dave, Jamie, and Daryl, check out the following links: 

Video of Dave and Scarlett's flight: https://youtu.be/2nq7BWCFP4g

BirdTricks site: http://www.birdtricks.com

BirdTricks on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/birdtricks

BirdTricks on Instagram: https://instagram.com/birdtricksofficial

Dave on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thrillusionist

Daryl on Instagram: https://instagram.com/daryl_pete

 

 

 

Chris and Ari share a microphone to discuss how they provide show feedback! They discuss the general format for how and when they present it, share some specific notes from shows they've watched in the past (because neither of them ever delete Notes from their phones), contemplate how starting a feedback session with a positive note is not the same thing as the infamous "poop sandwich", and share tips for how to make giving and receiving show feedback easy and welcome.

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on a future episode of the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With Chris in Nashville to listen to other people talk into a microphone at the Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA) Annual Conference, Ari keeps the show going with the help of future animal care professional Lauren Vieira! Lauren emailed us to say that she was a listener who would love a sticker from the podcast if we ever made one - we did (thanks to our friends at Slapco), so we asked her to be on the show! Lauren talks about her story of shifting focus from the hospitality world to the professional animal care field, chats about the joys of moving to Florida, shares a bit about some of the interviews she's had for her first full-time zoo job, and grills Ari on some stuff she wants to know about our world - such a great conversation! (#ForeverSpeakingIntoAMicrophone)

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

Ari and Chris sit down to share some of the things they've learned about communication and what you can do as an individual to become a better leader, coworker, teammate, and supporter of others (spoiler: part of it involves being able to read minds). 

Have a question or something you want discussed on the show? Want to be on the show? Have feedback for what we can do better? For all your podcast feedback needs, reach out to us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris kick 2020 to the curb with our final episode of the year! We talk about some changes coming to the show in 2021, some wrap up thoughts on the inaugural of the podcast, and reflect on our hopes for the future. Thanks for joining us, this show has been a joy and it's because of YOU, dear listeners!

Have a question? Something you'd like us to discuss? Do you want to be on the show?? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

Ari has The Ick, so Chris is joined by NEI Supervisor Scott Trauger to share our notes - figuratively and literally - from the 2024 ABMA Annual Conference in Nashville, TN! 

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

We're excited to be joined by one of Chris' earliest mentors in the professional animal care world, Stu Levine! Stu crushes decades of amazing experiences into less than an hour to talk about being a part of the original "Florida NEI" team that moved Steve and the company from its former home base of Minnesota, the joy of eating lunch with a baboon every day, his history as a keeper, coordinator, and executive leadership consultant with the Walt Disney Company, the importance of combining organic learning with taking roles outside your comfort zone, why you should try to get a job doing your second favorite thing in life, and why leaders should let people dance on their dancefloor.

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

The TEC Talk Book Club returns to cover chapters 4-6 of Crucial Conversations with NEI's Bella Sorensson! Having just completed the book with the other awesome folks of the original NEI Book Club, Bella joins us to talk about the chapters "Learn to Look", "Make it Safe", and "Master Your Stories". We compare the book's terminology with the words we use for the same concepts in animal training ("hot terms," anyone?), share our own tendencies on the "Silence and Violence" chart, and Google the difference between empathy and sympathy to see if Chris can gracefully admit that he's wrong. 

Do you have any thoughts on Crucial Conversations that you'd like us to share on the show? Heck, want to join us on the show to talk about them yourself? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com and let's get you on here already!

With Chris in the middle of an unexpected Round 2 with COVID, Ari loops in return guest Ray Minchy to chat about all things show related and being on stage for the first time at a new show. They talk about all the steps she took to make it to her first day of doing the "T2" role on stage, from learning lines to organizing her pockets, and Ray shares some great advice at the end for anyone who is worried about talking in front of a crowd for the first time. Join these two ladies in this awesome GirlCast episode!

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

50 episodes, woo hoo!! Ari and Chris are joined by the founders of River Valley Raptors Inc., Abbey and Joe Krumrie, to talk all things birds of prey! We discuss how they met through work, their experiences with and passion for falconry and wildlife education, running a non-profit organization with your significant other, and how their long-time associate of IAATE has informed their training and animal care decisions. 

To read the IAATE Position Statements on things like the use of tethering and jesses with birds, please visit IAATE.org.

Have any questions about falconry or raptor training? You can reach out to Abbey and Joe at rivervalleyraptors@gmail.com.

Have any questions or topics for a future episode of the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

Despite being separated by 8,061 miles and a 16-hour time difference, Chris and Ari are back behind their microphones to chat about the aftermath of Hurricane Debbie and Chris' adventures consulting at Hamilton Zoo in New Zealand. Sweet as!

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

So long GROWvember, hello Enrichmas! Chris and Ari reflect on last month's emphasis on staff growth and discuss the start of Enrichmas, our annual tradition of working together to recognize the things we appreciate about the people at NEI. This leads to a greater discussion about environmental enrichment and the steps we've taken at NEI to get better at it. 

Do you have a question, suggested show topic, or favorite way to recognize others? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!  

Chris is joined by fellow podcaster and all around amazing Kiwi, Ryan Cartlidge, founder of Animal Training Academy! Ryan chats about how a desire for better work-life balance led to exploring non-zoo jobs beyond consulting, how a friend with a recording studio led to ATA's first online course, why it's important for people in the field to "keep their swords sharp," the joy of working with happiness engineers, and why you should thank people when they say "no."

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If you have an idea for how you can make our show better, you can let us know by filling out our quick, anonymous survey about our show athttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/tectalkpod until Feb 28, 2025.

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References from the show:

• Making Ripples by Animal Training Academy
• Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
• Reptelligence - Reptile Enrichment, Training, and Education

In honor of World Parrot Day, Chris is joined by Katelyn, Megan, Kamille, Keegan, Lizzi, and Aaron from NEI's Winged Encounters team to talk all the work they're doing right now to train a dozen new birds to join their free-flight macaw experience at That Major Theme Park in Central Florida That We Don't Talk About. They discuss the path from the birds' earliest training to the work being done right now onsite in the park, share the fun of being 50ft in the air during "lift training," reflect on all the changes we've made to our training practices since we first started setting up the show in 2013, and take a quick survey of the folks in the room to see which of the new birds are currently their favorite.  Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Workshop NIGHT! Live from our first in-person workshop in two years, it's the TEC Talk Podcast! With Chris out of town, Ari is joined by the staff and attendees of NEI's Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management workshop to chat about the week, all while NEI's spin on "The Training Game" goes on in the background. 

Also, people try to guess the weight of Ari's microphone. 

Yeah, it's a weird one. 

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris are back together, socially distanced of course, for another episode! This week we dig into the NEI archives to discuss Steve Martin's paper "What's the Motivation?" We talk about how it's influenced the way we look at behavior, and the great outline it provides for how we can be better trainers, caretakers, and teammates. 

What's the Motivation? by Steve Martin; presented at the 2015 IAATE Annual Conference

Have a paper you'd like us to discuss, or a question or topic for the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris is out sick and Ari is up at the crack of dawn to bring you this Morning Coffee SoloCast! Join her as she shares some thoughts on professional relationships with animals. As Ari ponders her decision to take her dog in for surgery she explores our relationships with the animals we care for and how we can set healthy boundaries that help us make the best decisions for the animals in our care without having our judgment clouded by emotions. 

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show, or would you like to be a guest on a future episode? Drop us a line at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Despite being separated by 4,700 miles and the Pacific Ocean, Ari and Chris sit down to celebrate the third anniversary of the TEC Talk Podcast! We share our highlights from the last three years and hopes for the future of the show - thank you to everyone who's come along for the ride with us and supported the show by listening!

Have a questions or a topic you'd like us to discuss on one of our future episodes? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Zoo podcasters of the world, unite again! Join Chris on his "exciting first date" with Jon Rossi of the Rossifari Podcast and Elizabeth Johnson of the Mothering Wildlife Podcast to discuss the ins and outs of our shows! With Jon as host and ringleader, we talk about why our shows got started, how they've evolved over time, what we've learned about our audiences, how "the sausage gets made" in the recording and editing process, and our favorite experiences as animal people talking into microphones. 

Check out all the great stuff from two shows we're proud to share the internet with: 

The Rossifari Podcast - Apple | Spotify | Website

Mothering Wildlife - Apple | Spotify | Website

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the TEC Talk Podcast let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

 

Chris is flying to the future (sort of) as he heads to New Zealand to do some consulting in the land of Hobbits, so Ari hosts this episode without him, but she is not alone! Natural Encounters Senior Trainer, Nathan Hensley, joins her to talk about the many, many things he does with and for NEI. A lover of Science, he found his way into the field after tagging along with his Grandfather, who was a docent at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Spending time at this awesome facility inspired him to pursue a career in the field, eventually coming to work for NEI. He has worked at many locations within our company and played many roles: building things, driving birds across the country, setting up road shows, presenting on stage, teaching in workshops, and beyond! He is someone everyone loves to work with on any team as he always strives to support everyone around him to reach new heights.  

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Chris and Ari are joined by bird trainer, IAATE President, and creator of the new TEC Talk theme music, Dave Miller, to talk about the importance of collaboration. We discuss the cool projects he's been a part of that combine his love of music and animals, and respond to some listener questions about negative reinforcement in the workplace and the things we wish we'd known when we started our careers. 

Have a question, idea, or anything else you'd like to contribute to TEC Talk? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

After an intro in which Chris demonstrates the evils of AI to an unsuspecting and horrified Ari, we're celebrating "Opening Weekend Eve" with Katelyn, Lucy, Meg, Laurel, Emily, Skyler, Emma, Ian, and Dan from the Minnesota Zoo Bird Show Crew! In this guest-packed episode we discuss the final prep going into the training of the birds, the joy of "plant school," the experience so far for the awesome crew of seasonal staff joining the show for the first time, the zoo birds making their triumphant return to Minnesota after going through training boot camp in Florida, and the team's guesses about what routines guests are going to be the most excited about. Happy Memorial Day, and happy opening weekend everyone!

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

With Ari busy teaching a training course at Croc School (who knew crocs even went to school, amazing!), our hosts meet up via the power of the Internet for another TEC Talk Book Club episode about Crucial Conversations! This time we cover Chapters 7 (STATE My Path), 8 (Explore Others' Paths), and 9 (Move to Action) - let's conversate! 

Have a suggestion for a topic or a theme for a future episode? By all means, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Ari and Chris go face to face via "Internet tubes" to talk about keto ketchup, Frank Lloyd Wright, birds that aren't Harris hawks, the 2022 ZAA Annual Conference, and NEI's Professional Contemporary Bird of Prey Training and Management Workshop. 

Helpful Links:

• NEI Training Workshops: https://naturalencounters.com/workshops/
• ZAA: https://zaa.org/
• GRAZE Monthly Virtual Support Group: https://zoomentalhealthsupport.com/support-services/
• ABMA presents "ABC's: Animal Behavior Chats" for December 8, 2022: https://buff.ly/3utQObH

We're back! Ari and Chris explain the story behind the recent bonus episode with our co-workers Flannery and Kyle, discuss how the current social unrest in the US has created a new opportunity to celebrate the diversity of voices and experiences in the zoological community, and take on an email asking about how folks looking to break into the zoo community can make themselves stand out. 

Do you have a question or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

It's another GIRLCAST! This time Ari hangs out with NEI Senior Trainer Lucy Rutt at the Homewood Suites in Tyler, TX, to talk about NEI's ongoing project at Caldwell Zoo. They dive into celebrating your accomplishments with grace, building relationships with supporting departments, and being a good example for taking time off. 

Also, you can be a vegetarian in Texas, believe it or not!

Have a question you'd like us to answer or a topic you'd like us to discuss on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With Ari away at the IAATE Midyear Meeting, Chris is joined by fellow ABMA Board Member and animal behavior podcaster, Shane Gorbett, to attempt to answer this question: how do we define a "modern zookeeper"?

If you have a shout-out you’d like us to share, a question or a topic you’d like us to discuss, or a suggestion for a guest we should have on the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

 

Happy virtual conference week! Chris and Ari are joined by dozens of wonderful animal people from around the world for a Zoom happy hour, live from the virtual hospitality suite of the 2021 IAATE Conference. As everyone shares their current passions, we learn a lot about 17-year cicadas, carnivorous plants, Australian gin, insect jewelry, and alpine cheese. This was super fun to record; with zero sarcasm: thanks 2020! 

Have a question or a topic for the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com! 

Ari and Chris are joined by NEI Supervisor and resident Renaissance Woman Amy Fennell to talk about her background with birds, her reflections on helping us create NEI TEC from the ground up, and the secrets to building kick-butt teams that can take on any challenge. Also, stained glass and video games!

Have a question or something you'd like us to discuss on the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!  

Chris is at the Ranch for our Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop, so Ari is hosting alongside a very special returning guest, NEI's own Aaron Rose! Aaron and Ari talk about how to navigate the animal care field when you are neurodivergent. Aaron shares his personal expereince with ADHD, along with his tools and tips for others in the field. They chat about reasonable accommodations for neurodivergent staff and how coworkers and leadership can help support them as they work towards reaching their goals!

If you have a suggestion for a question, topic, or guest you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show, let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

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The TEC Talk Podcast is proud to be sponsored by Audible.com! To support the show and get a free 30-day trial of everything Audible has to offer, visit http://www.audibletrial.com/tectalk- thanks Audible!

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This episode is also brought to you by Magic Mind! To learn more about the world's first Productivity ShotTM and get 20% off your first order, go to https://www.magicmind.com/tectalk and enter the code TECTALK20 at checkout. Thanks, Magic Mind! 

Ari and Chris convene to talk about what it really means to "see behavior" during a training session. So many nooks and crannies to explore in this one: when your training plan can get in the way of good training, communication between trainers before, during, and after a session, how "training ettiquete" ties into the greater idea of an institutional training culture, building confidence in people that they won't "break their animals," and learning to let go of our preconceptions about our animals - and ourselves - to do a better job of seeing behavior.

Got something you'd like us to talk about on the show? Be like all the cool kids and email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

With the third anniversary of the show looming, Ari and Chris reflect on some emails and show reviews we've recently received, tease an upcoming episode with some exciting guests, take a look at our listenership's current geographic breakdown, and count down our current Top 10 "most experienced" episodes!

Have a topic you'd like us to discuss, or wanna come join us on the show? Let us know at podcast@naturalencounters.com!

Links from the episode: 

"Suffering in Silence: Caring for research animals can take a severe mental toll. Is anyone listening?" by David Grimm

Growing Resiliency for Aquarium and Zoo Employees (GRAZE): https://zoomentalhealthsupport.com/

Zoo and Aquarium All Hazards Partnership (ZAHP): https://zahp.org/

 

As this weird, wild year starts to come to a close, we wanted to take a moment to share some of the things that the NEI team are thankful for in 2020. Whether at work with your animals or at home with your family, we hope you're having a wonderful week! 

Special shout-out to Ketsa for the track "Funky Garden" from the album "Ascendance" that plays throughout the episode. For more, check out https://ketsa.uk.

Have a question or a topic for the show? Email us at podcast@naturalencounters.com!