Best ABMA Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 264: What Does It Mean To "Prioritize Training"? (Live from the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference) 35:26

20d ago35:26

35:26

Ari Bailey is busy doing cool reptile stuff at Croc School at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, so Chris takes the opportunity to share the audio from his presentation, "What Does It Mean to 'Prioritize Training'?" from last week's ABMA Annual Conference! He shares some antecedent and consequence conditions that he's seen great teams utilize to mak…

1
Episode 266: Pursue Your Calling! (with Scott Trauger, Supervisor Emeritus, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 32:04

6d ago32:04

32:04

While Chris is away at the International Symposium for Zoo Animal Welfare in Chicago, Ari is hosting solo—but she’s not alone! She’s joined by former (but also still current) NEI teammate Scott Trauger, who shares what life has been like since he made the big leap to follow his passion outside the animal field. From spreadsheets to showtunes, hear …

1
On The Economy, with Rob McManamy 5:57

13d ago5:57

5:57

The economic news has been fast and furious this spring and more than a few headlines are in conflict. Here, we briefly review the latest from Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other industry voices as we try get a better picture of the road ahead.By hpac

1
Episode 265: Using Communities to Create Opportunities 43:13

13d ago43:13

43:13

Ari catches us up on her time at Croc School before our hosts tackle an email asking for ideas about how to create opportunities in the professional animal care field for yourself when 1) you've moved somewhere where the immediately employment opportunities might be limited - or non-existent - or 2) you've taken a temporary break from the field and…

1
Episode 263: Zen and the Art of Networking (Live from the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference Zoo Day) 44:26

27d ago44:26

44:26

Chris is LIVE from Zoo Day at the 2025 ABMA Annual Conference in Galveston, Texas! Whilst wandering the grounds of our host facility, Moody Gardens, we chat with Chase Alsup from the Colorado State University Zoo, Aquarium, and Animal Shelter Management Graduate Program, Rae Simmons and Aubrey Wilson from the Moorpark College Animal Care and Traini…

1
Navigating Uncertainty, with Economist Richard Branch 17:58

27d ago17:58

17:58

At this time of extraordinary economic disruption, 'HPAC On The Air' welcomes back longtime industry analyst Richard Branch for his take on how design and construction firms can manage best in the face of a potential recession.By hpac

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Episode 262: A Feedback Loop About Feedback Loops 39:31

1M ago39:31

39:31

Chris is in the editing (and possibly scrapping-and-starting-over) phase of his upcoming ABMA workshop "Your Feedback Loop: Evolving the Way We Give Feedback to Peers," so he decided to reach out to one of the smartest feedbackers around - Ari Bailey - and see how their notes compared when she was given the assignment to jot down what she considere…

1
Episode 261: Is Your Animal Doing What You Want? (TEC Talk Throwback to The Official Chris Jenkins Super Simplified Guide to Behavior™) 43:02

1M ago43:02

43:02

It's consulting time! Chris is back at the Little Rock Zoo working with a team of eight trainers from around the zoo to get everyone working with people and animals they don't normally get a chance to, with the hopes that it might help them be better "training trainers" for new staff in the future! This has meant a lot of conversations about how yo…

1
EPA Resets, Engineers Stay Focused, with Rob McManamy 4:45

1M ago4:45

4:45

In March, the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to roll back more than 30 regulations and de-emphasize the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions. Since our industry is already heavily invested in decarbonization, we spoke with a number of key engineering leaders to gauge their reaction.…

1
Episode 260: The Guinea Pigs Have Arrived! (with Hayley Dougherty and Taylor LaTulipe, Natural Encounters, Inc.)) 39:20

2M ago39:20

39:20

Chris and Ari share two microphones with their newest coworkers, Hayley Dougherty and Taylor LaTulipe! Hayley and Taylor share their immediate feelings after their first interviews, get quizzed to see how much they know about the show sections they started learning less than 2 days ago, reflect on how they felt coming out of their first interviews,…

1
Episode 259: Okay - I'm Going to Get a Degree, Then I'm Going to Come Back and Run This Place (with Kimm Hunt, International Animal Training Certification Board) 1:02:02

2M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

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 understandi…

1
Protecting Your Business, with Nick Espinosa 22:31

2M ago22:31

22:31

HPAC 'On The Air' welcomes back cybersecurity expert Nick Espinosa to discuss the latest onslaught of technology threats and how engineers and contractors can best protect themselves in this constantly changing environment.By hpac

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Episode 258: Don't Panic! Let Your Weird Flagg Fly! (with Josh Flagg, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 36:43

2M ago36:43

36:43

Chris is off at the AZA mid-year meeting, so Ari is joined by NEI Senior Trainer Josh Flagg for this episode! They dive into the challenges and joys of being the new person on a zoo team. From making new staff feel safe and welcome to knowing when (and when not) to let your "weird flag" fly, Josh and Ari explore ways to set teams up for success. Th…

1
Episode 257: What Does Goal-Based Enrichment Look Like For People? 28:32

2M ago28:32

28:32

Chris once again ambushes Ari with a surprise topic for discussion, thanks to a great email we received: now that the definition of "enrichment for animals" has evolved, what might "modern, goal-based enrichment" look like for the humans we work alongside in the professional animal care field? We chat about the staff-driven professional development…

1
Economics Pulse Check, with Rob McManamy 5:24

2M ago5:24

5:24

In this extraordinarily turbulent month, especially regarding tariffs and their tangible effect on our industry, we take a look at what industry economists are seeing in the latest data...By hpac

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Episode 256: What Do Great Trainers Actually DO? (with Steve Martin, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 34:28

3M ago34:28

34:28

Ari and Chris steal a bit of time out of a busy day to chat with NEI's Steve Martin to follow up on last week's episode and talk about the practical, observable, and trainable behaviors that we see great trainers do. Focusing both on skills people can build in themselves and help build in others, the trio talks about meeting people where they're at…

1
Season 3, Episode #6 - Inside the Boiler Room - Feb 2025 - Ray Wohlfarth 32:14

3M ago32:14

32:14

This episode of Inside Boiler Room features boiler historian, international author, columnist, and consultant Ray Wohlfarth. Ray has been working with boilers for more than 40 years, written 13 books on many aspects of working with boilers, and hosts a series called the Boiler Room Detective on his YouTube Channel. In this episode, Ray shares his p…

1
Episode 255: Grab Your Trowel, We're Cultivating Trainers! 49:12

3M ago49:12

49:12

With Chris busy being immersed in our Immersion Workshop, Ari is joined once more by Adam Geltz (Senior Trainer, Natural Encounters, Inc.) to discuss a listener email asking us to share some thoughts about cultivating great animal trainers. They start by talking about setting up strong antecedents to foster a safe environment for learning, move on …

1
Breaking Barriers, Listening to Customers, with ABMA's Nancy Simoneau 18:45

3M ago18:45

18:45

The new board chair of the American Boiler Manufacturers Association is not only the first-ever woman to fill that role, she is also the first non-U.S. member to lead the 137-year-old trade group. Here, Simoneau joins us to discuss the unique perspective and infectious energy that will drive her leadership for the next two years.…

1
Episode 254: Changing Jobs and Continuing Connections (with Ramon Castillo, St. Augustine Alligator Farm) 45:18

3M ago45:18

45:18

Chris and Ari sit down with Ramon Castillo, who Ari first connected with through NEI’s work with Bearizona Wildlife Park—when he reached out to chat about reptile training! They discuss his time at Bearizona, his transition to The St. Augustine Alligator Farm, and how he’s working to make animal programs more accessible in both English and Spanish.…

1
Episode 253: Ego, Influence, and "Extreme Ownership" 58:15

3M ago58:15

58:15

With Ari out conferencing in Tennessee, Chris is joined by fellow NEI'er Adam Geltz to talk about their takeaways from Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babbin. They chat about the importance of recognizing when your ego gets in the way of making decisions that are best for the team, how vulnerability and…

1
Episode 252: Accelerate Your Growth Arc (with Adam Geltz and Shay Gruman, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 44:00

3M ago44:00

44:00

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…

1
Episode 251: If All You Do Is Grind, When Do You Have Time To Improve? (with Ryan Cartlidge, Animal Training Academy) 1:16:00

4M ago1:16:00

1:16:00

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 th…

1
Episode 250: From Timid Fans to Lifelong Friends (with Ken Ramirez, Steve Martin, Susan Friedman, and Tim Sullivan) 1:51:14

4M ago1:51:14

1:51:14

HAPPY 250TH EPISODE, TEC TALK! To celebrate this fun landmark, Ari and Chris are joined by four amazing people who've had a huge impact on us and our field: Ken Ramirez (Karen Pryor Clicker Training), Steve Martin (Natural Encounters, Inc.), Susan Friedman (Behavior Works), and Tim Sullivan (Brookfield Zoo Chicago)! Our guests talk about how they a…

1
Green Building Pulse Check, with USGBC's Liz Beardsley 27:33

4M ago27:33

27:33

With the U.S. now out of the Paris Agreement once again, questions are swirling around the state of our industry's sustainability efforts. USGBC Senior Policy Counsel Elizabeth Beardsley joins us to discuss that, as well as the recent COP29 conference in Azerbaijan. Much progress is still happening on many fronts, she says.…

1
Episode 249: The Uses and Limits of Anthropomorphism (with Katy Kocisko, Center for Great Apes) 48:31

4M ago48:31

48:31

Ya'll know the drill by now: you send us an email, you get invited to be on the podcast, and as a result we get to hang out with Katy Kocisko (not Kocinko, Chris), orangutan caretaker at The Center for Great Apes! Katy shares how a school field trip lead to her first internship and full time job at Bearizona Wildlife Park (where she first met the N…

1
Episode 248: Off the Cuff (with Susan Friedman, Behavior Works) 26:48

4M ago26:48

26:48

Boy oh boy, did life decide to life all over us today! Today we had a fun recording planned with the amazing Dr Susan Friedman, founder of Behavior Works... and then a surprise USDA inspection stole Ari away from us and threw everything into a tizzy! Chris did get a bit of time to chat with Susan, and though we decided to push our planned recording…

1
2025 Forecast Bullish, Despite Angst, by Rob McManamy 10:27

4M ago10:27

10:27

Infrastructure and data center projects will drive our industry this year. But new variables are mounting regarding potential disruptions to construction labor and the supply chain.By hpac

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Episode 247: Yay, Let's Talk About Grief! 36:04

5M ago36:04

36:04

Ari and Chris are back together to talk about everyone's favorite topic in the professional animal care world: dealing with the grief following the loss of an animal in your care. We share some great advice from others, some old attitudes that we think aren't helpful , and some excellent resources to help all of us deal with the worst part of our j…

1
Episode 246: All the NEI Stuff and Things Coming in 2025! 18:15

5M ago18:15

18:15

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 …

1
Season 3, Episode #5 - Inside the Boiler Room - Dec 2024 - Impact of Boiler Fans - Tristen Gitzel, Northern Blower 30:20

5M ago30:20

30:20

Tristen Gitzel from Northern Blower joins Inside the Boiler Room for a insightful discussion on boiler fan technology and its impact on operations and efficiency.By ABMA

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Episode 245: You're Doing It! You're Living Your Dream!! (with Lacey Zeno, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium) 1:01:39

5M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

Ari and Chris are excited to be joined by former NEI'er, secret payroll lover, and reluctant extrovert Lacey Zeno, Curator of Ambassador Animals at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium! Lacey talks about the path that took her from dog training and vet school prep to being Ari's roommate in Dallas (thanks, Amy Robinson!), achieving her goals of working wi…

1
Episode 244: ....Why Don't We Try It Now? (with Emma Pearce, Hamilton Zoo) 45:23

5M ago45:23

45:23

Thanks to the magic of technology, Chris is joined from the other side of planet Earth by Emma Pearce, Carnivore Keeper and Animal Training Coordinator at Hamilton Zoo in New Zealand! Emma shares her journey through the animal care field in Australasia (including a brief detour into biosecurity), what it's like to be an "animal training committee o…

1
Divided Nation, Focused Industry, with Rob McManamy 4:41

5M ago4:41

4:41

Our latest Editor's Notes looks back on a trying election cycle that has redoubled this industry's determination to make 2025 a resilient success.By hpac

1
Episode 243: Pursue Your Joy AND Leave Room To Pivot (with Stu Levine, Elevating Impact Consulting) 51:58

6M ago51:58

51:58

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…

1
Episode 242: At the "Chlorine-Splattered Pants" Stage, You're No Longer A Visitor (with Jon Rossi, The Rossifari Podcast) 49:53

6M ago49:53

49:53

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: s…

1
Finding Meaning and Purpose, with ASHRAE President Dennis Knight 29:00

6M ago29:00

29:00

HPAC On The Air this month welcomes ASHRAE's 2024-25 President, who describes how youth and new technology are enhancing the Society's global mission.By hpac

1
Episode 241: You Might Fall... But What If You Fly? (with Megan Geddes, Taronga Zoo) 53:43

6M ago53:43

53:43

We are excited for the triumphant return of one of our favorite people (and earlier podcast guests), Megan Geddes! Megan catches us up on her post-NEI life in Australia (where she's currently a Senior Trainer at Taronga Zoo), reminisces about preparing the perfect outfit for her NEI phone interview, quizzes us on our knowledge of Aussie slang, disc…

1
Episode 240: When Everyone You Look Up To Says "Read A Book," You Read A Book (with Kaitlyn Wiktor, Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium) 1:02:19

6M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

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) d…

1
Inspiring Women to Lead, with Rob McManamy 9:25

6M ago9:25

9:25

EDITOR'S NOTES: "Firehose of solidarity?" This fall's first-ever ASHRAE Women in Leadership Symposium was truly extraordinary. Our editor-in-chief was there and explains why this meeting was so different.By hpac

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Episode 239: THE BEE IS ALIVE?!?!? (with Morgan Belle, Disney's Animals, Science, and Environment) 49:38

7M ago49:38

49:38

A biologist? At Disney?? That's right, it's the return of Morgan Belle, Conservation Programs Manager with Disney's Animals, Science, and Environment! After a brief recap of her history in the field, Morgan chats about life as "everyone's 'bug lady'", the (somewhat controversial) difference between bugs and insects, how improv classes were the scar…

1
Season 3, Episode #4 - Inside the Boiler Room - November 2024 - National STEM/STEAM Day - Catie VanWormer, Cleaver-Brooks & Steven Taylor, WARE 33:18

7M ago33:18

33:18

National STEM/STEAM Day, a day dedicated to promoting and celebrating education and careers in science, technology, engineering, art & design, and mathematics, takes place on November 8th. In honor of national STEM/STEAM Day, ABMA is dedicating November's podcast episode on discussing the importance of STEAM in the boiler industry. ABMA's Vice Pres…

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Episode 238: What If the Rabbits Just Decided to Be Held? (with Nicky Plaskitt, Shaping Behaviour) 59:33

7M ago59:33

59:33

Ari and Chris are joined by one of their favorite Brits, Shaping Behaviour founder Nicky Plaskitt! Nicky chats with us about her path from zookeeper to zoo training consultant, the importance of not being risk-averse, the unexpected academic audiences that her company has connected her too, the importance of establishing and maintaining an online f…

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Fitting Connections, with New ASPE President Bryan Hutton 19:05

7M ago19:05

19:05

Our guest this month is Bryan Hutton, the very new president of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers. A chemical engineer atop his own composites manufacturing firm, Hutton is also the first-ever African-American to lead ASPE. Listen to his refreshing and positive perspectives here.By hpac

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Episode 237: It Really, Really Is a Journey (with Elly Neumann, Jerusalem Zoo) 47:08

7M ago47:08

47:08

Ari and Chris are joined by one of their absolute favorite people in the field, Elly Neumann! Elly chats with us about the journey that brought her to her current role as Coordinator of Welfare, Training, and Enrichment at Jerusalem Zoo, the wide spectrum of where animals institutions are at globally in the development of their behavior management …

1
Episode 236: This Is Who I Am, and This Is Who I Want To Be (with Sidney Campbell, Cascades Raptor Center) 56:16

7M ago56:16

56:16

Ari and Chris are joined by one of their favorite members of the NEI Expanded Universe: Sidney Campbell, Senior Trainer & Educator at Cascades Raptor Center! Sidney details the path that took her from San Diego elephants to Alaskan raptors, how her interest in non-profits was the perfect partner to working in raptor rehab, the unique way that anima…

1
Episode 235: The Story According to Bob (with Bob Chastain, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Steve Martin, Natural Encounters, Inc.) 1:19:18

7M ago1:19:18

1:19:18

Here's one we've been excited to do for awhile: Ari and Chris are joined by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo President & CEO Bob Chastain and NEI President & CEO Steve Martin to talk about the history of the relationship between the two organizations! We chat about "Bob's side of the story" for CMZ tales Steve's been telling us for years, how the stage was se…

1
Making New History, with Rob McManamy 4:33

7M ago4:33

4:33

Our latest Editor's Notes podcast explains the vintage design of our new print issue, announces some overdue changes to our Editorial Advisory Board, and takes the pre-election pulse of a very healthy U.S. economy.By hpac

1
Episode 234: I Can Haz Professional Development Now? (with Greg Peccie, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden) 48:05

8M ago48:05

48:05

Despite cell phone signals doing their best to keep us apart, Chris AND Ari are joined for the return of Greg Peccie, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden's Director of Animal Care and Welfare! Greg returns to the show to help us dig deeper into the many angles of professional development: developing a shared language for what those two words mean, how "quiet…

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Season 3, Episode #3 - Inside the Boiler Room - September 2024 - Investing in Boiler Education - Jonathan Kapel, STEAMWORKS 27:33

8M ago27:33

27:33

Jonathan Kapel joins ABMA's Inside the Boiler Room for a captivating conversation about the importance of properly trained boiler operators to head off minor issues before they major ones and ensure a safe and efficient boiler room.By ABMA

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