Episodes

In this week’s conversation, we speak with Stefania Uccheddu, Veterinarian and Coordinator of the Behavioral Medicine Service at the San Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, located in San Marco, Italy. In this conversation, our focus is specifically the grief-like process that dogs can go through when they lose their dog companion, but Stefania does touch on a few other really key intersecting spaces that go hand in hand with the dog's experience. Having witnessed what our dog Blue went th...

In this week’s conversation, we speak with Nigel Rothfels, Professor of History from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Nigel has long been studying the history of ideas we humans have of animals and animal studies, which lucky for us includes all things zoos! Because boy did we have questions upon questions… And like all good questions and conversations the answer is never “good or bad” is it? It’s complicated. But Nigel patiently walked us through a long history and into some dark corners...

In this week’s conversation, we had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Carer and Head Manager of the Rhino Orphanage, Yolandé van der Merwe. We have been following the Rhino Orphanage since their foundation in 2012, so when we started this podcast they were immediately on our list! The story of the Rhino Orphanage is one of great tragedy and great triumph. It’s a story of the moment you see a life hanging in the balance, and in an instant the course of your life changes. This conversation ...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Kirsty-Jo Muddiman, representative for The Seahorse Trust and coordinator of the Malta Seahorse Project. Who knew that the seahorse is as fancy inside as out! This might be the most surprising little animal we have covered yet, and that’s saying A LOT. Take a listen to all the fun facts on seahorse morphology and biology and let us know which attribute is most surprising to you! Our big question is why hasn’t Disney or Pixar not created an animated...

Hello Kindred Podcast community! NEW episodes start dropping bimonthly on Oct. 22nd and we can’t wait! Have a listen now for some episode teasers, a little Kate & Jenn update, and what’s new and upcoming for our next season. BIG shout out to our new subscribers and those of you who have bought us a coffee! Thank you TONS! And thank you to our loyal listeners and for sharing our podcast with your community. If you’d like to join our community please go to our website kindredpodcast.co where y...

In this week’s episode, we travel to Denmark and speak with author and long time marine biologist Hanne Strager about the incredible and dynamic predator the killer whale, or orca if you prefer. Hanne specializes in marine wildlife, specifically killer whales, and has recently published her new book titled, The Killer Whale Journals: Our Love and Fear of Orcas. We wanted to speak with Hanne because we are keenly interested in the relationship humans have with predators and why killer whales hav...

In this week’s episode, we had the absolute pleasure of speaking with entomologist Gwen Erdosh! We came across her Instagram account a few years back and have been huge fans ever since. We are so inspired by Gwen for many reasons. She’s a woman who has loved entomology from a very young age, she features insects in a way that is super fun and respectful, and her passion for all-things-bugs is infectious. Oh, and she speaks about them not only in English but in fluent Spanish (We can barely spe...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Jen Davis, the education and learning manager for The Wildlife Trusts based around the UK. Jen focuses specifically on the role nature plays in childhood and how through educational programs implemented by The Wildlife Trusts, children can access empathy to nature, and a deeper connection to themselves and others. And, we dig deep into the critical role time spent in nature plays in the development of children and young people. Jen was such a joy a...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Elly Albers who is all about the beautiful Pink Flamingo! Elly is the founder of the Bonaire Wild Bird Rehab, and owner of the Mangrove Info Center (Kayak and Boat Excursions) on the beautiful island of Bonaire. When researching this episode, we were so pleased to find that flamingos are native to Bonaire, one of our most favorite places in the world, and then learning of the Wild Bird Rehab where flamingos and other birds were being cared for was a ...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Sloane Hawes, Chief of Research and Development at CARE, which stands for Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity. Founded in 2020, CARE is America’s first national Black, Indigenous, and People of Color [BIPOC] led animal welfare organization. The primary focus of CARE is “to rethink and rebuild Animal Welfare [Animal Protection]. Our goal is to do this in a way that honors and reflects the well being of all people; making human and animal wel...

In this week’s conversation, we are speaking with William Housty, Associate Director of the Heiltsuk Integrated Resource Management Department in Bella Bella, British Columbia. The HIRMD are in charge of overseeing the management of all natural resources in the Heiltsuk territory, including the beautiful and captivating sea wolves. There is an air of magic and mystery about these sea swimming wolves that compel you to want to know, who are these beings and what is their story. William Housty te...

In this week's episode, we are speaking with Bear Biologist Chris Servheen. We finally get to meet our grizzly bear fears head-on and dispel all the misinformation that we have been wondering about for years! We were so lucky to have been able to speak with Chris, one of if not the leading bear biologists in this country. Chris has been working tirelessly for his entire career advocating for the health and protection of one the most incredible and majestic predators in the world, the grizzly b...

In this week’s conversation, we speak with Lance Foster, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. You know when you hear an idea and it hits you like “Oh my gosh, of course”? Well, that was my reaction when I heard Lance Foster talking on NPR about the work he is doing in gaining rights and legal standing for natural entities, like rivers. Yes. Rivers. And specifically like the river he lives near, the mighty Missouri! Lance walks us through what this all ...

In this week’s episode, we are doing another podcast swap! In the episode we are sharing today, Nicole and Rachel talk about the Takhi horse, a non domesticated species of horse that is highly revered and worshipped by the people of Mongolia, area of Gobi. And subsequently, the conservation that helped to save this amazing ancient horse. Archeologists have found that this species of horse was not domesticated and that the Mongolian people see it as a sacred symbol of their history, heritage, a...

Welcome to Season 6 everyone! Today we have the privilege of kicking off this season with Stroud Water Research Center, and representing them for this conversation is Melinda Daniels, senior research scientist and Matthew Ehrhart, director of watershed restoration. Since the 60’s SWRC has been working to preserve and restore freshwater systems and they are known worldwide for their innovations in this field. SWRC’s mission is to “advance knowledge and stewardship of freshwater systems through...

From all of us at Kindred, a massive thanks to our guests this season! We would not be able to do what we do without your research, your experience, and your drive to create a healthier and protected home for animals, nature, and us. And thanks to you, our listeners. Your support and listenership of our small but mighty podcast means the absolute world. YOU are why we are here. Lots of Love, Kindred. For more information on all things Kindred please visit our website kindredpodcast.co. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this week’s episode, we speak with Dr. Andrea Reid, a citizen of the Nisga’a Nation and assistant professor with the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and the principal investigator at the Centre for Indigenous Fisheries. Andrea launched the Centre for Indigenous Fisheries and leads an incredible team where they are working to “build momentum and action in support of the study and protection of culturally significant fish and fisheries” (quoted from cif....

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Dr. David Scheel, behavioural ecologist and professor of marine biology at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, Alaska. David takes us into the wild and wonderful world of octopuses and we get a glimpse into the mysteries they hold. We also dive into his new book Many Things Under A Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses where David takes us around the world and into the very dens of these extraordinary animals. As exotic as octopuses are, their behavi...

In this week’s episode, we speak with long-haul hiker and adventurer Melanie Vogel. Melanie is the first woman to walk the Trans Canada Trail, the longest recreational trail in the world. She walked from the Atlantic Ocean across and up to the Arctic Ocean, then down and over to the Pacific Ocean. Nearly 21,000 kilometers. Solo. Melanie’s story is one of unexpected connections, harrowing experiences, brutal weather, stunning beauty, finding a soul mate, finding oneself, and the slow and emerging...

In this week’s episode, we’re doing a swap! Today we are sharing an episode from The Community Cats Podcast, with creator and host Stacy LeBaron. In this episode, Stacy, along with her guest writer and author Linda Malik, dispels the myths attached to black cats, how it has created a false narrative and the misunderstanding that black cats are somehow different because of their color and how this myth came to be. Linda Malik’s children's book series titled Willow’s Tales explores these issues b...

In this week’s episode, we speak with psychologist Jill Suttie, staff writer and contributing editor for the Greater Good Science Center, at University of California, Berkeley. Jill connects us to how being in nature helps us on a deep psychological, neurological, and overall physical level. We wanted to know what was actually happening in our brains and bodies when we spend time in nature and how those experiences translate to our mental and physical health. We all know we love being around t...

In this week’s episode, Kate and Jenn take a look back on their last year with Kindred. We are so grateful for the support, growth, and all the amazing conversions we had in 2023. We’ll be taking a short winter break but we’ll be back in January with more thought-provoking conversations with some exceptional humans to finish out this season. From our hearts, we are so grateful to YOU the listeners! And deepest gratitude to all our guests. You are why we do this podcast. Thank you for guiding ...

In this week’s episode, we travel to Egypt and speak with equine veterinarian Dr. Farah ElMallah. What an absolute joy to speak with such an intelligent, driven, and passionate human about her work healing some of the most broken animals in the world: the horses and donkeys of the working and tourism industries. Farah explained so clearly why specific kinds of work (and how much is asked of these hard-working animals) are so brutal for them. All too often she has seen the broken spirits in the ...

In this week’s episode, we speak with Dawood Mohammad, founder of Animal Rescue Kashmir (ARK) about how and why he started doing rescue work in Kashmir, and the often heartbreaking relentless experience of helping the dogs, horses, cats, and other animals on the streets of Kashmir. We were deeply moved and struck by his account, and where he finds the strength to keep doing this work at whatever cost to him. Here in the US, it’s the season of giving and gratitude and it’s times like this that we...