All Creatures Podcast

Chris welcomes Dr. Sammy Ramsey (“Dr. Bugs”), entomologist at the University of Colorado Boulder, to discuss Secrets of the Bees (National Geographic, Disney+/Hulu).

They explore surprising bee intelligence—from navigation using the sun to puzzle-solving, teaching, and even play—alongside fascinating behaviours like the waggle dance and swarm decision-making. Ramsey debunks common myths about honeybees and explains why they’re less aggressive than wasps. The episode also tackles colony collapse, ongoing hive losses, and the impact of varroa mites. He shares simple, practical ways people can help protect pollinators at home.

Tune in on Nat Gro March 31, 2026

Disney+/HULU April 1, 2026

Dr. Ramey's website and socials can be found HERE

Timeline

00:00 Welcome and Introductions
01:12 Why Bees Amaze Us
01:46 Tiny Brains Big Intelligence
02:52 Secrets of the Bees Visuals
04:03 Bees vs Wasps Misconceptions
07:24 Colony Collapse Explained
09:58 Annual Losses and Data Confusion
14:09 Bumblebee Lab Play and Puzzles
18:42 Insect Culture and Conservation
20:25 Inspiring Future Scientists
21:46 Why Bees Deserve Spotlight
22:01 Secrets Series Perspective Shift
23:39 Waggle Dance Explained
25:21 Honeybee Democracy Swarms
28:04 Varroa Mites Threat
31:41 Fighting Mites With Genetics
32:24 Help Pollinators At Home
35:51 Hope And Final Plug
37:19 Where To Follow Dr Sammy

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Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at [email protected]

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

You can also visit our website HERE. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bringing back an older episode, but a classic! This week, great news as Monarch Butterfly winter populations have regained 60% of their population numbers vs previous years! Once again, conservation is proving to work and thus, we are releasing this older episode.

Chris and Angie delve into their life cycle, migration patterns and unique 'super generation'. They also discuss the butterflies' ecological importance and the role they play in pollination and ecosystems.

The hosts share their experiences of visiting a university's natural history museum and butterfly breeding program. With a focus on the alarming decline in the Monarch butterfly population, threats like climate change, pesticide use and habitat loss are highlighted.

They also bring attention to active conservation organizations like Monarch Watch and the ESS Society, and promote involvement in citizen-science projects. They encourage listeners to contribute to butterfly conservation by planting pollinator gardens, with a forthcoming resource on suitable plants for different U.S regions.

Podcast Timeline

00:50 Introduction and Welcome

00:59 Exploring the World of Insects

01:40The Significance of Monarch Butterflies

02:20 The Research and Preparation Process

02:37 The Passion for Learning about Creatures

03:06 The Fascinating Journey of Monarch Butterflies

04:28 The Importance of Insect Conservation

04:05 The Incredible Migration of Monarch Butterflies

04:42 The Monarch Butterfly in New Zealand

05:39 The Beauty and Importance of Monarch Butterflies

06:43 The Life Cycle of Monarch Butterflies

10:19 The Impact of Climate Change on Monarch Butterflies

15:27 The Role of Citizen Scientists in Monarch Conservation

32:13 The Evolution and Migration of Monarch Butterflies

42:24 The Mystery of Monarch Migration

43:10 Theories on Monarch Migration

44:26 Adaptation and Migration Patterns

44:48 Monarch Butterflies in New Zealand

45:20 The Fascinating Multi-Generational Relay Race

46:07 The Incredible Journey of Monarch Butterflies

53:32 The Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle

54:56 The Super Generation of Monarch Butterflies

57:02 The Intriguing Physiology of Monarch Butterflies

01:03:13 The Importance of Conservation Efforts

01:23:48 The Role of Citizen Science in Monarch Conservation

01:26:00 The Impact of Planting Pollinator Gardens

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Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon ⁠HERE⁠.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at ⁠[email protected]⁠

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

You can also visit our website ⁠HERE.⁠ 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This was our 50th episode we did back in 2018. How far we have come over the years.

Sea dragons are among the most extraordinary fish on Earth, found only in the temperate coastal waters of southern Australia. Close relatives of seahorses, species like the leafy, weedy, and ruby sea dragon drift through kelp forests and seagrass meadows disguised as floating seaweed. Their intricate, leaf-like appendages aren’t used for swimming but for camouflage, allowing them to vanish into their surroundings. And like seahorses, it’s the males who carry the eggs, brooding them externally until they hatch.

Although they look mythical, sea dragons are very real — and increasingly vulnerable. They rely on healthy kelp forests and stable coastal ecosystems, which are under pressure from warming oceans, marine heatwaves, pollution, and habitat degradation. Because they are poor swimmers and highly specialized to their environments, they cannot easily relocate when conditions change. Protecting sea dragons means protecting entire underwater ecosystems that support rich marine biodiversity.

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Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at [email protected]

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

You can also visit our website HERE. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris reflects on the state of nature in 2026, where conservation is defined by both loss and recovery. While habitat fragmentation, climate warming, coral bleaching, and Arctic instability continue, meaningful protection efforts are delivering results. He highlights conservation wins, including pandas downlisted to vulnerable, green sea turtles to least concern, tiger recovery in India through reserves and anti-poaching, Gabon’s protection of forest elephants for rainforest integrity and carbon storage, and community-led snow leopard conservation in Nepal.

The episode also addresses ongoing losses, key drivers of biodiversity decline, global efforts like 30x30 and the High Seas Treaty, and practical ways listeners can help — from reducing consumption to supporting frontline conservation initiatives like Snow Leopard Sisters.

00:00 Welcome and Reality Check
00:46 Conservation Is Tension
02:40 Climate and Biodiversity Link
03:17 Resilience and Hope in Action
04:40 2026 Roadmap for Today
05:42 Big Wins Pandas and Turtles
07:55 India’s Wildlife Comeback
11:00 Gabon Forest Elephants
14:45 Snow Leopard Sisters Spotlight
19:44 Losses and Extinctions
24:25 Why Extinction Is Accelerating
27:45 Five Biggest Threats
29:46 Mainstream Momentum and 30x30
35:48 People Giving Hope
38:21 What You Can Do Now
42:43 Support Snow Leopard Conservancy
44:38 Final Call to Action

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this re-release, we revisit one of Africa’s most iconic species ,the Ostrich, the largest living bird on Earth.

Native to sub-Saharan Africa, ostriches dominate open savannas and semi-arid landscapes with their towering height, powerful legs, and unmistakable presence. Though flightless, they are built for speed, capable of reaching up to 70 km/h (43 mph), making them the fastest birds on land.

Ostriches are evolutionary marvels. They have only two toes per foot, a rare adaptation that increases stride efficiency and speed, and they lay the largest eggs of any living bird. Social and highly alert, they often live in loose groups and rely on keen eyesight to detect predators across vast plains.

While some populations remain stable, wild ostriches face pressures from habitat loss and historical overhunting, reminding us that even the most formidable species depend on healthy ecosystems to endure.

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Another thank you to all our Patreon supporters. You too can join for one cup of "good" coffee a month. With your pledge you can support your favorite podcast on Patreon and give back to conservation. With the funds we receive each month, we are have been sending money to conservation organizations monthly. We now send a check to every organization we cover, as we feel they all are deserving of our support. Thank you so much for your support and for supporting animal conservation. 

Please considering supporting us at Patreon HERE.

We also want to thank you to all our listeners. We are giving back to every conservation organization we cover and you make that possible. We are committed to donating large portions of our revenue (at minimum 25%) to every organization we cover each week. Thank you for helping us to grow, and for helping to conserve our wildlife.

Please contact us at [email protected]

if you would like to advertise on our podcast

You can also visit our website HERE. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices