Trainer Talks and Tails

Sophie initially worked in zoos before moving across to field work where she spent a lot of time at a rhino orphanage in Africa. Sophie shares the day to day, feeding baby rhinos around the clock and the harsh realities of the job. Like many of us, Sophie struggled with the idea of being a zookeeper and conservationist encompassing her personality, we chat through balance and things to remember when working in a compassion role. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

Blake joins us this week to touch on his career working across numerous facilities primarily specializing in raptors and mammals! Blake has a huge passion for enrichment and shares why quality enrichment is so important and how we can better provide it. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

We had an absolute blast chatting with Jimmy and Renae, two giraffe specialists from Taronga Zoo! They chat all about reinforcers, challenges and of course, the training program they help maintain with the herd of giraffe. Jimmy and Renae are also extremely passionate about giraffe conservation, and they touch on what is being done to help conserve this unique species in the wild and the incredible fundraising they have contributed. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

For this week's episode, we were lucky enough to be joined by Erin Oakley, from Seaworld on the Gold Coast! Erin has had the opportunity to work with a variety of marine animals and has an incredible understanding of training from her years of experience. With this, Erin helps explain some basic training terminology, with examples, that we might use daily within our facilities. She also is interested in concept training and shares what that might look like and how this type of teaching can positively effect animals in human care. If you have any questions for Erin you can reach out on socials @erinjoakley. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

We're so excited to be joined by Village Road Shows Head of Entertainment and communication coach, Michael Croaker this week! With over 30 years of experience, Michael generously shares his tips and tricks for gaining confidence with public speaking and developing your skillset. We chat all about maintaining guest engagement and what to remember when writing scripts. You can reach out to Michael via his website Stand & Deliver Public Speaking Bootcamp (standanddelivercoach.com). You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or for feedback and queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

This week we were lucky enough to sit down with 3 of Paradise Country's animal specialists to chat all about training! The girls chat about training wins and challenges, reinforcers and future training goals with all three species! You can find Paradise Country on socials @paradisecountrygc and the podcast @trainertalksandtails. You can reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

Jamie chats with us this week and shares his love and passion for elephants! We chat all about training, reinforcers and social dynamics before diving into the hot topic of protected vs full contact with elephants! Jame discusses about his experience working both, what he sees as pros and cons and what the future of elephant training might look like. You can reach out to Jamie on socials @jamiegray_. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

This week we are lucky enough to be joined by Rachel all the way from the US! Rachel has years of experience working with and training dolphins and we dive into conversations all about training and reinforcers! Asides from working hands on with dolphins, Rachel has developed an incredible program, from her experiences, which provides advice, tips and guidance for aspiring marine animal trainers. If you have any questions for Rachel, you can find her on socials @tursiteach. If you have feedback or queries for the podcast, you can reach out on socials @trainertalksandtails or via email trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

This week its just us! We chat through a bunch of questions that we got sent covering a huge array of topics related to the industry! You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or for feedback or queries reach out on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

Bianca joins us this week where she generously shares so much of her experience in animal training! We chat about training resources, writing a shaping plan, training hurdles and what a training coordinator or consultant really does! You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails.

Not one, but two ungulate specialists joined us this week! Vicky and Jess, both from Auckland Zoo, chat all about their primary species, rhino, giraffe and nyala! There share their cooperative care training focuses for all species including important dental work and hoof care. We chat about challenges they face and future training goals! If you have any questions for Vicky or Jess, you can reach out to them on vicky.smith@aucklandzoo.co.nz or jess.burgess@aucklandzoo.co.nz. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

Matisse is an absolute professional when it comes to agility training with dogs! We were lucky enough to chat with her all about her passion, from puppy training to agility and her new exciting sheep herding venture. We chat about the importance of using positive reinforcement with dogs and leaving old training techniques in the past. If you have any questions for Matisse you can find her on socials @fitdogfamily. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

For our 30th episode, we were lucky enough to be joined by host of Mothering Wildlife podcast, Elizabeth Johnson! Elizabeth has decades of experience working within the field and uses her podcast platform to chat with other professionals about balancing work life with parenthood. We chat about the common challenges, how management can be supportive and whether her years of animal training experience has transferred into her kids! You can reach Elizabeth on socials @motheringwildlife or via email motheringwildlife@gmail.com. If you have any feedback or queries for the podcast you can reach out on socials @trainertalksandtails or via email trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

Tess and Daisy were overjoyed to be joined by the Director of Behavioral Husbandry of Brookfield Zoo, Tim Sullivan. Tim expands on his impressive career within the animal field before diving into the topic of mentorship and the key role it plays in our field. We discuss self-fulfilling prophecies and the impact it can have both positively, and negatively on our training and how to best mitigate it. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or reach out for feedback and queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

Céser has a huge passion for wildlife and in particular birds and frogs! We chat about his really succesful podcast, Death by Birding, and where his love of frogs has taken him. We also chat all about being a vet student alongside a very unique photographer. If you have any questions for Céser, you can reach out on socials @ceser_on_safari. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

Jake shares his experience of being involved in Australia's first successful Komodo Dragon breeding program! We expand on Komodo Dragon husbandry and training! Jake also chats about Symbio Wildlife Park's brand new habitat and the process for designing an exhibit. If you have any questions for Jake, you can reach out to him on socials @jakemeney. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

Emily from Skegness Seal Sanctuary in the UK joins us this week! We speak about the process of rescuing and rehabilitating an animal, the challenges that come with it and the success rate with seals and release. Emily also shares her tips for rescue & rehab role and some of her favorite success stories! If you have any questions for Emily you can reach her on socials @keeperemily. If you have any feedback or queries for the podcast you can reach out on @trainertalksandtails or trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

This week's episode we're joined by Matthew Kettle, long time bird trainer at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, AUS! Matthew shares his journey into the industry and what he has gained from different facilities and bird shows across the globe. We chat about starting Taronga Zoo's famous bird show alongside Steve Martin and mishaps that can occur with free flight birds. You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails or email us for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

For our first guest of 2024 we were joined by Sea World Australia's Head Vet Dr. Claire Madden. Claire talks us through her j0urney through the industry and how she got to her role now and what it entails. We chat all about how advancements within training have played a huge role in veterinarian care and the importance of talking about mental health as a vet. If you have any questions for Claire you can reach her on socials @drclairemadden. If you have any feedback or queries for the podcast you can reach out @trainertalksandtails or trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.

Tess and Daisy are back for 2024! Starting off the year with a catch-up episode, where Daisy shares her experience overseas and the details of Seaworld Abu Dhabi whilst Tess has a very special announcement! They also chat about their work goals for 2024 and what is in and what is out! You can find the podcast on socials @trainertalksandtails and reach out for feedback or queries on trainertalksandtails@outlook.com.