AquatiZoo podcast

Aquariums and zoos regularly go out into the world with educational materials, animals, and artifacts to help people learn well outside the boundaries of their institutions. Today, we discuss how and…

It could be healthy, it could be troubled, it could be positive, it could be ineffective. There are many ways that workplace culture can be evaluated, monitored, and changed... no matter your positio…

Do you happen to know the organizational structure of your favorite zoo or aquarium? You may think that's an odd question to ask, but if you've never considered it before, you might find the answers …

Have you ever had that feeling that you've somehow fooled everyone into thinking that you're capable and confident and can handle all sorts of new challenges? Most of us have, and it can be a difficu…

Brought to mind by a recent story in the news, it's important to remember why zoos and aquariums must be so vigilant when bringing skilled workers and external companies into the mix to provide neede…

The wild job market right now in the USA has impact on zoos and aquariums. How should we proceed? Today, we discuss evaluating our positions and how to retain and entice employees. It starts with tre…

Did you know that there are programs run through AZA with the help of many zoos, aquariums, researchers, business partners, and concerned citizens to address the challenges that animals face in their…

There are times when disagreements get pretty heated, but it's not appropriate to raise your voice at work. Some people struggle to communicate without yelling and today we discuss why it's important…

People in animal care jobs are expected to hone their skills and keep up with the latest technology and practices. Today we discuss how we know where to look to find those learning opportunities and …

One of the most important things institutions can do for a new hire is a thorough and thoughtful onboarding process. It might sound boring, but it's time well spent for all of those involved. No one …

It can be quite a challenge to introduce animals to one another in hopes that they get along. Today we discuss the why and how we might play matchmakers. It's a more complicated process than you migh…

It's important to take a step back and look at what you've accomplished, whether the results were what you were expecting or not. This is how we learn. This is how we improve. This is how we build tr…

There's a group of animals at aquariums and zoos that have the special job of interacting with the public. How do we manage them? What sort of training might they have? Let's discuss the importance o…

It's so difficult to work with someone that you don't really like. It's worth it to your career, mental health, and to your coworkers to make an effort to try and work together regardless. It's not e…

Does it matter what a customer or guest thinks of your institution and its practices? Of course it does! Today, we discuss the sorts of things that aquariums and zoos think about and plan for when it…

Part of the challenge of working with others is open communication. It's not always so easy to establish a trusting relationship, but there are ways to invite others to talk and open up to you so tha…

One of the sometimes overlooked members of a zoo or aquarium's staff is the public relations person. What might they be doing? How hard could it be? Today we discuss the importance and the challenges…

Change is hard. We all know it. If you've ever been curious as to how to go about making changes in a workplace where you have newfound influence or authority, we're going to figure it out together!

…

There's a lot of thought and preparation that goes into the decisions about what animals at aquariums and zoos will eat. Where will the food come from? How much will there be? How is it prepared? If …

If you've ever found yourself ready to leave your current job, how might you decide where to go? An often overlooked option is a lateral move with a new facility when it's so tempting to go for a pro…