[00:00 - 01:25] Introduction: Dustin Bean introduces hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock. They set the stage for a discussion on "Project Zoo: Wildly Reimagined," the largest construction project in the zoo’s history.

[01:25 - 03:00] Weird Architecture News: The hosts discuss international architecture news, including China’s ban on "ugly" buildings and a U.S. executive order promoting classical Greek and Roman styles for federal buildings.

[03:00 - 06:10] The Zoo’s Unique Style: The conversation shifts to the Little Rock Zoo's use of native Arkansas stone, a style established by Silas Owens, one of the state's first Black architects.

[06:10 - 08:50] Meet Ben Beggs: Ben Beggs shares his journey into the construction industry, from working summers for his father’s company at age 14 to becoming the President of Flynnco.

[08:50 - 10:45] Project Zoo Overview: Details of the $12 million project are revealed, including new exhibits for tortoises, squirrel monkeys, capybaras, anteaters, and lemurs, as well as a complete redesign of the zoo’s amphitheater.

[10:45 - 13:30] Building for Animals vs. Humans: Ben explains the unique challenges of zoo construction, such as creating artistic concrete "rockwork," using specialized glass that allows UV light for animal health, and installing 3-foot concrete "dig barriers."

[13:30 - 16:30] Sustainability Efforts: The project emphasizes sustainability by crushing and recycling concrete from 1970s-era structures to use as fill for the new buildings.

[16:30 - 18:50] First Impressions: Ben describes what visitors will see first, including a new waterfall fountain feature and meticulously selected mature landscaping.

[18:50 - 22:45] The "Construction Crew" Game: The hosts play a fun game matching animals to construction roles, comparing elephants to bulldozers and beavers to engineers.

Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock speak with Little Rock Zoo's Conservation and Research Coordinator, Dr. Laura Bernstein-Curtis, about sloth bears and international conservation.

The episode starts with "Wild News": celebrating the hopeful increase in the endangered Red Wolf population (supported by AZA zoos) and the rediscovery of the sailback hound shark, highlighting the vulnerability of microendemic species.

Dr. Bernstein-Curtis clarifies that sloth bears, native to India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, are not sloths. They are insectivores and their primary diet of ants and termites is called myrmecophagous. Their unique adaptations include long claws for digging and a gap in their front teeth for sucking up insects.

The core of the discussion is the Little Rock Zoo’s role in the AZA SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) Sloth Bear Program. Dr. Bernstein-Curtis explains that SAFE works with field partners like Wildlife SOS to address threats like the historical "dancing bear" trade by supporting local communities. The program also funds simple, effective solutions to human-wildlife conflict, such as distributing metal sticks with bells (bear deterrent sticks) to prevent surprise encounters. She shares a highlight from her field trip to India and Sri Lanka where she helped facilitate veterinary and conservation training.

Zoos are essential for conservation. The animals on exhibit are ambassadors who inspire the public to care, and every visit directly supports research and field work to save species worldwide.

In this episode you’ll learn

• Sloth Bear Facts: Why they are not sloths, their range, and the term myrmecophagous for their unique insect diet.
• AZA SAFE Program: How the Little Rock Zoo coordinates the SAFE effort to fund and direct conservation, aligning with field partner needs.
• Success Stories: The recovery efforts for the Red Wolf and the rediscovery of the microendemic sailback hound shark.
• Conflict Reduction: The use of bear deterrent sticks in India to prevent aggressive human-sloth bear encounters.
• Zoos & Conservation: Why zoos must exhibit animals (to create ambassadors) and actively engage in field work (to save species).

Highlights & Key Takeaways

• Zoos are critical funding sources and knowledge partners for global efforts.
• Sloth bear claws are for digging, and they use a dental gap for sucking up termites.
• Successful conservation prioritizes the needs and knowledge of local communities.
• Seeing animals in person inspires action and makes the public part of the work to save species.

Hosts Susan Altrui and Joy Matlock team up with zookeeper Hannah Baker for a playful but powerful thought experiment: What if humans had the superpowers of animals? From cheetah-speed sprints to gorilla strength and kangaroo jumps, this imaginative episode uses humor to explore real conservation issues hiding beneath the “what if” scenarios.

But the conversation turns deeper: What if accredited zoos didn’t exist? The hosts reflect on the life-saving impact of AZA-accredited zoos—from black-footed ferrets and California condors to great ape medical research, hero rats, venom-derived medicines, habitat conservation, and the emotional and educational moments that shape communities.

This episode celebrates the superpowers of animals, the essential work of zoos, and the life-changing connections formed when people meet wildlife up close.

In this episode you’ll learn

• How animal “superpowers” actually work—including cheetah speed, gorilla strength, kangaroo jumping, and why many animals use these abilities in short bursts.
• Why habitat loss threatens even the strongest species, and how zoos work with partners to protect open spaces and ecosystems.
• What would happen if accredited zoos didn’t exist, and which species (like black-footed ferrets and California condors) likely wouldn’t be here today.
• How zoos contribute to science and medicine, including research on great ape heart disease, venom-derived treatments, and disease-detection breakthroughs using hero rats.
• Why real, in-person animal encounters matter, especially for sparking empathy, curiosity, childhood development, and community wellness.
• The powerful human stories—from children learning to walk again through animal motivation to kids choosing birthday donations to the zoo.

Highlights & Key Takeaways

• Animal abilities inspire awe—yet even super-strong or super-fast species can’t overcome habitat destruction without human help.
• Accredited zoos are essential for conservation, safeguarding genetically diverse populations, funding global wildlife programs, and rescuing species from extinction.
• Zoos are living classrooms. Seeing animals in person fosters empathy and inspires future conservationists more effectively than digital media.
• Research at zoos benefits humans too, from studying great ape heart health to disease-detection work and venom-derived medicines.
• Community value goes far beyond the exhibits. Zoos provide emotional refuge for families in medical crisis, spark joy, and offer inclusive, healing spaces for the public.
• Ambassador animals and hands-on experiences change lives, inspiring children to grow into scientists, conservationists, and wildlife advocates.