Today we talked with Maryls Houck and Marco Wendt of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s Frozen Zoo. Maryls is the Curator of the Frozen Zoo, while Marco is the spokesperson for the alliance. The Frozen Zoo is the largest collection of living cell lines in the world. The specimens are currently all vertebrates: birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. To date there have been 11,600 individuals, 1,300 species and subspecies collected over the Zoo’s 50 year history. The zoo has been pivotal in cloning Przewalski’s horse, bringing diversity back to the the black-footed ferret population also through cloning, and more.

The conversations delve into a wealth of topics including genetic rescue, how specimens are collected, the struggle in figuring out of where in each animal collections should be taken, how the living cells are maintained, what it means to be a species and more. Further Maryls talks about what it’s like being a woman in STEM, and talks about her history,

There is a lot in this one, and we were honored to be invited to speak with both Maryls and Marco.

Today we spoke with Charlie Ho (Chi-Lee Ho) a post-doctorate researcher concentrating on lung cancer at the Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle Washington. Charles Ph.D work took place at the University of Pennsylvania where he worked on early detection of gastric cancer.

During our conversation we talked about his educational, journey, his doctoral work, his work at Fred Hutch Cancer Center, and his experiences in academia.

Dr. Maureen Lamb is the co-director of the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center at Indiana University Bloomington. The center holds the largest repository of fruit fly stock in the world. The center shipped out to over 950 institutions last year orders a year consisting 156,000 vials, or 3,200 vials per week. The center holds the fly line for white one discovered by Thomas Hunt Morgan at the turn of the 20th century, and houses 93,335 different stocks at the facility.

Dr. Lamb received her doctorate from the University of Iowa where she specialized in “Cell Cycle Control, Cell Fate Decisions, Critical Thinking in Scientific Presentation and Writing”. Their post-doctoral research was done at the Stowers Institute for Medial Research.

During this episode we talk about the importance of fruit flies in research, the day-to-day at a stock center, as well as the logistics involved in the running of such a large operation.

Today we spoke with Dr. Jordan Kennedy an interdisciplinary quantitative researcher and engineer, who combines materials science, mechanical engineering, biology, and ecology to unlock the secrets of complex systems. And yes, that means fluid mechanics, beaver-built dams, crash courses in ecological dynamics—plus more. Jordan earned both their Ph.D. and M.S. in Materials Science & Mechanical Engineering from Harvard University.

They served as Science Director at INDIGENOUS LED, spearheading partnerships across federal, tribal, academic, and private research sectors. They developed science frameworks rooted in Indigenous perspectives, emphasizing tribal IRB compliance and data sovereignty.

Today we talked to Dr. Josh Benoit, a professor in the department of biological sciences at the University of Cincinnati, where he heads the Benoit Lab of Insect Biology. His research includes how insects survive dehydration, cold, pesticide exposure, and other stressors—sometimes doing fieldwork in extreme environments, including Antarctica.

We covered his research in Antartica, talked about the vast array of insects that he has worked on including, midges, cockroaches, ticks and more.

Today we talked with Dr. Nathan Voltimer an associate professor at Oregon State University where he is the principal investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute, a part of the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics. Dr. Voltimer received his Ph.D in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. His labs research revolves around parasitoid venom proteins and identify signaling regulators among. His labs research focuses on cell signaling in immunity & disease with attention to “Regulation of host signaling by parasitoid venom proteins”, “Immune metabolism and parasite mediated metabolic changes”, the “Role of innate immunity and inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis”, “Molecular genetics of Drosophila melanogaster cellular immunity”, and the “Role of innate immune receptors in self-tolerance and autoimmunity”.

Nathan is also a project leader at the Genetics Education Partnership where he leads the Parasitoid Wasps Project.

Today we talk to Dr. Odel Rechavi the principal investigator of the The Oded Rechavi Lab at Tel-Aviv University. Dr. Rechavi is an ERC Fellow, a recipient of the Schmidt Science Polymath award, the Kadar award, the Blavatnik award and more. He is best known for his work which provides evidence that a trait can be inherited through a transgenerational inheritance mechanism using RNA and not DNA using nematodes as a model organism.

We not only covered his work in transgenerational inheritance, but also his research into using toxoplasmosis as a protein delivery system able to pass through the blood-brain barrier. Also covered was his work using DNA sequencing to help translate the Dead Sea Scrolls, the importance of science communication, and more.

Today we have Dr. Greg Pask, a professor at Middlebury College who holds his Ph.D in Biological Sciences from Vanderbilt University. As the head of the Pask Lab, Greg studies a number of different insect species including, but not limited to, ants, butterflies, and fireflies. Greg participates in a great deal of science communication doing work with Cosplay For Science, and presentations at Comic Cons around the country discussing insects in popular culture.

Today we talked with Alysia Vrailas-Mortimer who holds her Ph.D. in Genetics and Molecular Biology from Emory University. Alysia is the principal investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute which is part of Oregon State University. Alysia talks about her research into aging, the importance of cross discipline collaboration, and science communication.

Today we have Dr. Adrian Smith, a research Assistant Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, at North Carolina State University, Head, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior Research Lab at the North Carolina Museum of Natural History, and the individual behind the popular AntLab YouTube channel. We talk about his journey into entomology from washing dishes in a fire ant research lab, the path to his doctorate, his research into ant behavior,  love for trap-jaw ants, and the inspiration for creating his popular YouTube channel.

On today’s episode we’re joined by Dr. Thomas Merritt, the head of the Merritt Lab at Laurentian University Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry to talk about handedness and why most people are right hand dominant. This talk delves into mature subject matter not suitable for kids, if they are around wait for another time to listen. You have been warned.

On today’s episode we’re joined by Dr. Thomas Merritt, the head of the Merritt Lab at Laurentian University Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry to talk about Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease. Dive into the genetics of the disease decimating the devil population, with pit stops along the way discussing transmissible cancer in clams and dogs, immortal parasitic cell lines, and more. Fair warning, today's episode does briefly talk about porcupine sex toys and animal copulation.

Joining us today is the co-host of the critically acclaimed Wildly Curious podcast, Katy Reiss. Katy holds her bachelors degree in Zoo and Wildlife Biology, and a masters in Park and Resource Management. We talk about her lifelong love of nature, work with gorillas and birds of prey, time working the Little Rock Zoo, being a science communicator, and her special relationship with Lincoln the cranky great horned owl.

Joining us today we have Dr. Jacqueline Litzgus a Full Professor of Biology at Laurentian University who holds her Ph.D in Ecology, Evolution & Organismal Biology. We talk with Dr. Litzgus about catching toads with her brother, her fascination with milk snakes growing up, teaching biology at a children’s canoe camp where she would find data that would set the course for her career, her studies into the freezing and over wintering of reptiles and amphibians, turtle eco-passage research and more.

Today we’re joined by RockItSage, a Geologist, a teacher, and one of the pioneers of science on Twitch. We discuss playing with barbies in the mud, her love for the arts, skipping school to go visit the mountains, her life changing moment in the Mojave desert, being the first in her family to earn a college degree, her journey into a career in geology and her extensive lab work.

Today we talk with Ultrasaurus, a full time content creator with her bachelor of science in biology who specializes in bioethics.

Today we talk with Creatrix_Britt, a full time art director, 3d printer, and content creator.

Today we are speaking with Today we talk with Dr. Inés Dawson who holds her Ph.D in the Biomechanics of Insect Flight from the University of Oxford.

Our guest today is CocoConfession, a full time variety streamer on Twitch who holds her bachelor of science in chemistry.

Today’s guest is Helen Anderson, a Scientific Content Liaison at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She has a bachelor of science in cell and molecular biology and a Master of science in  Genetic Counseling.