In this episode, I unpack what "no-kill" actually means-not as a slogan, but as a sytem shaped by time, space, law, and community responsibility.

We talk about how shelters reach no-kill status, why foster programs matter so much, how intake laws shape what shelters can do, and why shelters often carry the weight of upstream failures.

This is a conversation about animal welfare, shared responsibility, and what real progress actually requires.

Can I Run Something By You? explores animal welfare, conservation, and the systems we build around them.

Ever wondered what it takes to become a zookeeper? In this episode, I share my own winding path into the field- a "figure-it-out-as-I-go" journey that isn't the one I would recommend today. From unexpected turns to lessons learned, I talk about what aspiring keepers can really expect (including how much of the job actually comes down to working well with people) plus a few honest tips for getting your foot in the door and thriving once you're in.

What happens when a non-traditional older American student from Arizona State University and a University of Botswana student share a tent in the Okavango Delta? In this episode, I sit down with my tentmate, Oné, to relive our time together in the Botswana course and talk about her fascinating graduate research on elephants returning to the wild after being in managed care. From camp life laughs to conservation insights, this conversation captures the heart of what it means to connect across cultures in one of the most remarkable places on earth.