Episodes

Originally released November 22, 2022. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in April 2026. In this week's episode from our archives, we speak with Itsaso Velez del Burgo about her work at the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center in the Democratic Republic of Congo rescuing and rehabilitating chimps and other vulnerable species. She talks to us about how the devastating effects of extreme poverty and hunger lead to poaching and the trauma that echoes through the chimpanzees and their families. ...

Originally released January 9, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in April 2026. In this week’s episode from our archives, 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 natu...

Originally released June 25, 2024. New Kindred episodes will drop starting in April 2026. 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 spen...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Eriel Dernager, president of the organization Indigenous Climate Action, the only Indigenous led climate justice organisation in Canada. Eriel is from the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation located in Treaty 8 Territory, otherwise known as the Northern Alberta area, and currently resides in Treaty 6 territory also known as Edmonton, Canada. Deranger’s work focuses on Indigenous rights and building an intersectional dialogue between Indigenous rights, cl...

In this week’s episode we are speaking with Dr. Carlo Siracusa, a professor of small animal behavior and welfare at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Siracusa specializes in animal behavior, stress evaluation, and canine aggression. In a nutshell, Dr. Siracusa’s research focuses on canine and feline behavioral issues-why they develop, how humans influence those issues, and best approaches to working with dogs facing these challenges. There are many factors at p...

In this week’s episode we are speaking with Dr. Winifred Frick. Dr. Frick is a research biologist and chief scientist at Bat Conservation International, and is an adjunct professor in ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz. At BCI, generally her research focuses on conservation biology and ecology of bats, but she is primarily focused on the impacts of the deadly fungal disease called White-nose syndrome to bat populations in North America. This is the 5th ...

In this week’s episode we are speaking with Kojo Baidoo, a naturalist and ecologist, all about the incredible vulture. Kojo received his degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University where he did his senior thesis on black vultures. He is currently working with the Nature Conservancy in Nebraska on the Platte River Prairies learning about land management and conservation on about 4000 acres of protected prairie land. Kojo is just starting out in his formal career, but he’...

In this week’s episode we are speaking with Dr. Catherine Macdonald, marine conservation biologist and shark ecologist. Catherine is a scientist and Research Assistant Professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science at the University of Miami. She is the Director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program (SRC), which focuses on shark research and public science engagement and education. And she is a co-founder of the Field School, a marine field science training...

In this week’s episode, we are speaking with Chris Strub, a wildlife rehabilitator who has worked in wildlife rescue and rehabilitation for over 10 years. Chris started out as a volunteer at the Wild Bird Fund in New York City. He then moved to The Schuylkill Center in Philadelphia as the director of their wildlife clinic, and finally to Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center on Long Island. One of Chris’ favorite animals, and one he has worked a lot with, is the possum. And one of our goals h...

In this week’s episode, we are diving into all things hyenas! Yep, we’re that excited. And to take us on this deep dive we have asked hyena expert and behavioral ecologist Dr. Kay Holekamp to educate us all about this amazing animal and talk to us about the 30 + years of research and data her team has been collecting. Dr. Holekamp is head of the Department of Integrative Biology and is director of the Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Program at Michigan State University. Dr. Holekamp i...

Kindred is back, hosted by Kate Coffin and Jenn Asplundh. This season, we’re flipping the script on creatures everyone loves to hate — from hyenas and vultures to bats and possums — and showing why they’re fascinating, essential, and surprisingly lovable. Join us as we explore the hidden connections between humans, animals, and nature, and discover stories that will make you see the world in a whole new way. Follow Kindred wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode! Learn more,...