Podcasts by The TEC Talk Podcast: Presented by Natural Encounters, Inc.

Episode 190: Give Them the Tools, Don't Be the Tool! (with Tim Sullivan) from 2023-12-07T10:00

On this episode, Ari chats with Tim Sullivan (Director of Behavioral Husbandry at Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo) about how to grow great keepers and animal care staff into great le...

Episode 189: It's Almost Like Repetition Builds Confidence... (with Amy Fennell) from 2023-11-30T10:00

Ari and Chris are back together and joined by NEI Supervisor of Humaning Amy Fennell! In this wide ranging conversation we talk about the challenge of moving a team of human and animal learners ...

Episode 188: Traditions (with the Team from Winged Encounters) from 2023-11-23T08:51

With Chris avoiding microphones for the time being (thanks, strange upper respiratory infection from the other side of the planet), Ari catches up with Katelyn Ferringer, Lizzi Fricker, Keegan F...

Episode 187: Humaning Revisited? Sweet As! (TEC Talk Throwback featuring Amy Fennell) from 2023-11-16T09:38

Ari and Chris play a bit of catch up on our lives at opposite sides of planet Earth, describing their past few weeks and individual experiences with New Zealand's Bird of the Century vote (aka "...

Episode 186: Enriched Experiences (with Nicki Boyd) from 2023-11-09T09:00

Chris and Ari are joined by San Diego Zoo's Curator of Mammals, Ambassadors, and Applied Behavior, Nicki Boyd! We asked Nicki to join to tell us all about the zoo's "Enriched Experiences" progra...

Episode 185: When the People Lead, the Leaders Follow (with Ron Magill) from 2023-11-02T08:42

Ron Magill returns to the podcast this week to chat about walking the talk when it comes to conservation efforts! The Florida Bonneted Bat is a critically endangered native Florida species of ba...

Episode 184: Putting Rungs on Your Ladder (with Tim Sullivan) from 2023-10-26T09:00

Fresh off his visit to NEI for AZA's Animal Training Applications course, Ari and Chris are joined by Tim Sullivan, Director of Behavioral Husbandry at Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zo...

Episode 183: Q&A with Santa Fe! (Live from the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo's Field Trip to NEI) from 2023-10-19T09:00

Chris and Ari are joined by fellow NEI-ers Clarie Santiago (Ranch Supervisor), DonnaSue Evans (Chief Human Resources Officer), and Amy Fennell (Supervisor of Training) for a Q & A panel as part ...

Episode 182: The "P" Stands for "Applications" (with Tim Van Loan) from 2023-10-12T09:00

It's an NEI reunion as Ari and Chris are joined once more on the show by Tim Van Loan! Tim talks about his new role as Curator of Animal Well-being and Behavior at The Living Desert Zoo and Gard...

Episode 181: Life is Life-ing Really Hard This Week from 2023-10-05T09:00

Chris is joined this week by his thoughts on the long drive home from the Ranch to chat about the ABMA Midyear Board Meeting, the Great Mews Project of 2023, his awe-inspiring co-workers, and 3 ...

Episode 180: Catching Up With Old Friends, Stepping Up With New Harpies (with Steve Martin) from 2023-09-28T09:00

Fresh off the plane from the other side of the Atlantic, it's the return of NEI President and CEO Steve Martin! Chris and Steve sit down to chat about Steve's visit to IAATE's 2023 UK Symposium ...

Episode 179: "ChoiceNControl" for the Human Animal from 2023-09-21T19:41

Ari and Chris chat about our field's favorite term that's not actually a word - Choice and Control! They discuss what they are, how they're related, and what they mean for animal care before dig...

Episode 178: DIY, AZA, and Other Paths to Leadership (with Misha Body and Dr Taylor Gilley at the 2023 AZA Annual Conference) from 2023-09-14T09:00

Chris is at the 2023 AZA Annual Conferece in Columbus, OH, and continues his collection of "PDC Podcast People" by chatting with Misha Body and Dr Taylor Gilley! They've both had fascinating pat...

Episode 177: Habits (of the Atomic Variety) from 2023-09-07T19:13

With our backstage painting project complete, Ari and Chris discuss the excellent book Atomic Habits by Jame...

Episode 176: Hurricanes, USDA, Abraham Lincoln, and You from 2023-08-31T10:46

With much of Florida dealing with a very unwelcome out-of-state guest named Idalia, Chris and Ari take some time to talk about NEI's prepartions for being licensed and inspected by the USDA for ...

Episode 175: Be a Pelican, Not a Pelican't (with Greg Peccie) from 2023-08-24T09:00

With Ari in Minnesota hanging out with a certain cool bird show crew, Chris is pleased to welcome back Greg Peccie, Director of Animal Health and Welfare at Riverbanks Zoo! Building on our conve...

Episode 174: Minnesota Nice (with the Minnesota Zoo World of Birds Show Crew) from 2023-08-17T09:30

Chris and Ari are melting in Central Florida, but luckily they're joined by some very cool people in a much cooler climate - Dan Blair, Meg Meyer, Kayla Rowand, Brianna Thorson, and Laurel Mochi...

Episode 173: Butterflies, Immediate Butterflies (with Shayna Gruman) from 2023-08-10T08:00

With Ari taking some much-deserved vacation, Chris is joined by NEI's own Shayna Gruman! For the week of Shay's one-year work anniversary we talk about her history in the field, how the job has ...

Episode 172: Final Thoughts on Conversing Crucially (Crucial Conversations Chapters 10-12) from 2023-08-03T11:23

We finally finished our homework! Ari and Chris sit down for the fourth and final episode of their TEC Talk Book Club to discussion of Listen

Episode 171: Wait, Who Shot the Dog First? (The Ten Laws of Shaping, Part 3) from 2023-07-27T08:00

Ari and Chris are back in their office to finish off their incredibly-surface-level review of The Ten Laws of Shaping from Karen Pryor's Don't Shoot the Dog!...

Episode 170: Be Careful How You Spend Your Equats! (with Shareen Knowlton and Jen Rudolph) from 2023-07-21T02:55

With Ari away at the IAATE midyear meeting, Chris takes advantage of some time at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, to chat with a few amazing folks, Director of Education...

Episode 169: Employee of the Month, EVERY MONTH! (with Erik Montgomery) from 2023-07-13T13:23

With Chris somewhere in Europe again (we think) Ari sits down with Erik Montgomery, Director of Operations for the Natural Encounters Conservation Fund, to chat all things NECF! Erik and Ari tak...

Episode 168: "The Asian Chick in the Back of the Room" (with Jennie Janssen) from 2023-07-06T12:06

Ari and Chris are excited to be joined by Jennie Janssen, Assistant Curator at National Aquarium and President and Co-Founder of Minorities in Aquarium and Zoo Sci...

Episode 167: As Always, "It Depends" (The Ten Laws of Shaping, Part 2) from 2023-06-29T08:00

Chris and Ari return to Karen Pryor's Listen

Episode 166: Animal Podcasters of the World Unite (with Dr Grey Stafford, Ryan Cartlidge, and Shane Gorbett) from 2023-06-22T08:00

What's better than an animal training and behavior podcast? FOUR OF THEM ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Chris and Ari fulfill a longtime dream and bring together the hosts of the Listen

Episode 165: Once Upon A Time in Rhode Island (with Sean Hoelle, Kassidy King, and Morgan Lopes) from 2023-06-15T05:00

Chris is MIA (still in America, just lost his voice) but Ari soldiers on with the help of Sean Hoelle, Kassidy King, and Morgan Lopes, part of the staff of NEI's "Rhode Show" at Roger Williams P...

Episode 164: Staying Constructive in an Evolving Animal Field (with Lizzi Fricker) from 2023-06-08T15:21

Chris has the plague! But don't worry, he is resting at home and Ari is joined this week by NEI trainer Lizzi Fricker (which is definitely her last name, as we learn during this episode). They c...

Episode 163: How is "DRSA" Not a Thing? (The Ten Laws of Shaping, Part 1) from 2023-06-01T08:00

Ari and Chris reconvene in their office to discuss Don't Shoot the Dog's Ten Laws of Shaping! Having not read the book in years, we were interested to look at Karen Pryor's ten suggesti...

Episode 162: Disaster Response (with ZDR3's Julia Wagner) from 2023-05-25T08:14

Ari hosts while Chris is stuck on a train somewhere in Europe, but it's far from a disaster because Julia Wagner, ZDR3's Executive Director, joins the show to talk about all things disaster resp...

Episode 161: Best. Zoom. Background. EVER! from 2023-05-18T08:00

Ari is back in Orlando so Chris had to flee Florida again - too much podcasting power to keep in one city! Ari recounts her time at AZA Croc School, while Chris shares his adventures bopping aro...

Episode 160: Return of the TEC Talk Book Club (Crucial Conversations, Chapters 7-9) from 2023-05-11T08:00

With Ari busy teaching a training course at Croc School (who knew crocs even went to school, amazing!), our hosts meet up via the power of the Internet for another TEC Talk Book Club episode abo...

Episode 159: Spending Time in the Messy Middle Bit (with GRAZE's Shannon McKinney and Hannah Fulmer) from 2023-05-04T08:00

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Chris and Ari are very excited to be joined by Shannon McKinney and Hannah Fulmer from GRAZE (Growing Resiliency for Aquarium and Zoo Professionals)! Af...

Episode 158: One Order of Show Feedback, Hold the Poop Sandwich from 2023-04-27T08:00

Chris and Ari share a microphone to discuss how they provide show feedback! They discuss the general format for how and when they present it, share some specific notes from shows they've watched...

Episode 157: Happy Third Anniversary, TEC Talk! from 2023-04-20T02:00

Despite being separated by 4,700 miles and the Pacific Ocean, Ari and Chris sit down to celebrate the third anniversary of the TEC Talk Podcast! We share our highlights from the last three years...

Episode 156: Listener Feedback for Pod-iversary Eve from 2023-04-13T08:00

With the third anniversary of the show looming, Ari and Chris reflect on some emails and show reviews we've recently received, tease an upcoming episode with some exciting guests, take a look at...

Episode 155: Out of Control! (with Steve Martin) from 2023-04-06T07:00

Chris is in Arkansas doing his best to dodge tornados, so this week Ari has the opportuntiy to sit down with the one and only Steve Martin (President/CEO of Natural Encounters, Inc.) to talk abo...

Episode 154: The TEC Talk Book Club Strikes Back (Crucial Conversation, Chapters 4-6, with Bella Sorensson) from 2023-03-30T08:00

The TEC Talk Book Club returns to cover chapters 4-6 of Crucial Conversations with NEI's Bella Sorensson! Having just completed the book with the other awesome folks of the original NEI...

Episode 153: We Have Different Viewpoints of What Flight Means for Humans (with Dave Womach, Jamie Womach, and Daryl Peterson) from 2023-03-23T08:00

Chris returns from his second bout with COVID-19 to join Ari in welcoming three cool people to the podcast, BirdTricks' Dave and Jamie Womach, and Master Falconer Daryl Peterson! We chat about t...

Episode 152: Professional Relationships with Animals from 2023-03-16T15:50

Chris is out sick and Ari is up at the crack of dawn to bring you this Morning Coffee SoloCast! Join her as she shares some thoughts on professional relationships with animals. As Ari ponders he...

Episode 151: So Many Good Steves! (Live from the 2023 ABMA-IMATA Conference) from 2023-03-09T12:54

Greetings from the 2023 ABMA-IMATA Joint Conference in Atlanta! Chris sits down with fellow ABMA Board Members and all-around awesome people Christina Lavallee from Zoo Atlanta, Justin Garner fr...

Episode 150: Welcome to the TEC Talk Book Club! (Crucial Conversations, Chapters 1-3) from 2023-03-02T09:00

The show returns to its influenza roots to celebrate 150 episodes with Ari home sick (just the regular flu, thank you very much) and Chris at work, talking into separate microphones, to discuss ...

Episode 149: Better Humans All Around (with Shelby Jecius) from 2023-02-23T09:00

Ari and Chris sit down for a chat with Bearizona's very own Shelby Jecius! Shelby shares the path through the animal field that lead to her current role as a Supervisor at the wildlife park, and...

Episode 148: Pet Floofy Kittens (Live from the 2023 IAATE Conference) from 2023-02-16T15:22

Ari sits down after the 2023 IAATE Conference Icebreaker with some of the amazing attendees and board members to talk about what they're looking forward to at this year's conference. They chat a...

Episode 147: The First Rule of Book Club is We Talk About Book Club (with The NEI Book Club) from 2023-02-09T09:00

Chris is joined by NEI's Erik Montgomery, Clarie Santiago, Bella Sorensson, Kassidy King, Hunter Peck, and Cori Dawson to chat about the newly-launched NEI Book Club! We talk about the where the...

Episode 146: Multitasking to Talk About Multitasking from 2023-02-02T09:00

What better way to demonstrate the challenges of multitasking than to record a podcast at 70mph? While pursuing different alternate routes to a meeting at the Ranch, Chris and Ari keep their eye...

Episode 145: When "Helping the Animal" Hurts the Behavior from 2023-01-26T09:00

After a discussion of the current global makeup of our listenership (based on some very dubious analytics), Ari and Chris (and Ari's dog, Archer) dig into the following training-related statemen...

Episode 144: Keep It 100! (with Adam Triska) from 2023-01-19T09:00

Ari and Chris sit down with NEI Senior Trainer Adam Triska to chat about his first day of shows as our newest stage presenter at The Theme Park Which Must Not Be Named (#SG@AW)! Adam talks about...

Episode 143: Inspiration at the Shrub of Living Things (Live from the Workshop!) from 2023-01-12T09:00

Recorded LIVE at NEI's January 2023 Professional Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop, it's the TEC Talk Podcast! Chris sits down with some of the staff and attendees of the work...

Episode 142: TEC Talk's Plans for 2023 from 2023-01-05T09:00

After a bit of reminiscing over their "holiday drywalls," Ari and Chris share some of the fun new ideas they'll be trying out for the show in 2023. Stay tuned - and glued to our Facebook page - ...

Episode 141: Many People Talking into Many Microphones (aka NEI Says Goodbye to 2022) from 2022-12-29T09:00

For the last episode of 2022 we're featuring...everyone! The staff of NEI share some of their highlights of the year as we stare down the barrel of 2023. Thanks for listening, and here's to anot...

Episode 140: Attitude Determines Your Altitude (with Dave O'Connell) from 2022-12-22T09:00

Ari and Chris get a second sit-down with Bearizona Wildlife Park's "Grand Poo-Pah" Dave O'Connell! Dave "returves" to the show to talk about what he and the other staff at BZ do to create high f...

Episode 139: Purposeful Recognition and Reinforcement from 2022-12-15T09:00

After a quick review of the 2022 NEI Holiday Party, Chris and Ari chat about the importance of specificity when praising and recognizing others, the line between social niceities and behavor str...

Episode 138: Playing Ketchup From Last Week from 2022-12-08T09:00

Ari and Chris go face to face via "Internet tubes" to talk about keto ketchup, Frank Lloyd Wright, birds that aren't Harris hawks, the 2022 ZAA Annual Conference, and NEI's Professional Contempo...

Episode 137: Welcome to the BOP Shop! (with Amy Fennell, Dan Blair, and Adam Triska) from 2022-12-01T09:00

Welcome to Workshop Week, Bird of Prey Style! Chris sits down for a quick chat with fellow workshop instructors Adam Triska, Dan Blair, and Amy Fennell to talk about the history of NEI's Profess...

Episode 136: Mom So Hard (with Danielle Poirier Larson) from 2022-11-24T09:00

Happy Turkey Day in the USA! Ari sits down for some mom-talk with Danielle Poirier Larson, Curator of Birds & Training at Southwick's Zoo! Ari and Danielle chat about the challenges of being a m...

Episode 135: Telling "White Dog Stories" to Save Lives (with Cindy Benson) from 2022-11-17T09:00

It's Contemporary Animal Training and Management Workshop Week at the Ranch, so Chris sits down to chat with one of our attendees, livestock guardian dog (LGD) trainer Cindy Benson! Cindy talks ...

Episode 134: Keeping Positive (with Natalie Sunray) from 2022-11-10T09:00

Ari hosts solo while Chris is...somewhere, but she's not alone! Natalie Sunray is our guest this week, currently interning at Metro Richmond Zoo, and feeling really excited about her future in t...

Episode 133: Training Alliances, Monkey Mamas, and Anthropomorphism (with Gary Wilson) from 2022-11-03T08:00

Moorpark College's Gary Wilson returns to the show! After a quick discussion about the start of another NEI "Growvember," Gary talks about the beginnings of the Animal Behavior Management Allian...

Episode 132: Work-Life Integration and Chameleon Leadership (with Will Elgar) from 2022-10-27T04:00

Chris and Ari are joined by Zoo Miami director WIll Elgar! Will talks about his path from starting as an animal trainer in the UK to leadership roles in the US, the importance of pushing your li...

Episode 131: Baby's First Midyear (with Scott Trauger) from 2022-10-20T08:00

Midyear? Mid year? Mid-year? However you spell it, Chris chats about his experience (so far) at his first midyear conference as an ABMA board member with NEI Supervisor Scott Trauger! Chris and ...

Episode 130: The Student Becomes the Teacher (with Gary Wilson) from 2022-10-13T09:00

Ari and Chris are joined by one of our most frequently-requested guests: former professor and co-department chair of the Exotic Animal Training and Management Program at Moorpark College, Gary W...

Episode 129: Post Hurricane Wrap-Up from 2022-10-06T09:00

Ari and Chris are tired (but otherwise great!) as they share how NEI and their birds fared during Hurricane Ian, and discuss everything that transpired to get our shows up and running again.

Episode 128: Hurricane Moving Day (A Theme Park Story in Three Acts) from 2022-09-29T04:01

It would take an act of God to keep us from bringing you a show every week.

And then one happened, and still we were like, "nah, we got this." 

It's moving day for our shows at THA...

Episode 127: Behaviour is What We Do (in the UK) from 2022-09-22T08:47:53

Greetings from Across the Pond! Chris does a solo-cast from the UK to talk about the great work the team back home has done in getting our birds back home from a temporary show shutdown, to deta...

Episode 126: The L-Squared Takeover (with Lucy Rutt and Lisa Haggadone) from 2022-09-15T08:44:01

It's an "L-Squared Takeover" as Lucy and Lisa take over the podcast! Will they share insightful thoughts about our field? Share what they've got for lunch today? Sow the seeds of sedition and pl...

Episode 125: Pride for the Past and Ambitions for the Future from 2022-09-08T09:00:45

Ari and Chris use two fully-functioning microphones to answer the following questions from our staff: what are you most proud of that you've accomplished in your career so far, and what are your...

Episode 124: The Dos and Don'ts of Venting from 2022-09-01T09:00:02

One computer. Two mics. Two people. One office. 

Ari and Chris share physical space once more to talk about the subject of venting, and how to do it without ruining your career and your r...

Episode 123: Feathered Friends and Flight from 2022-08-25T09:00:26

While Ari is away, Chris does his best to discuss one of the hottest topics in the companion parrot world: to free fly, or not to free fly? It's a big subject with a lot of moving parts, and it ...

Episode 122: Thoughts on Thoughts on Training from 2022-08-18T09:00:42

Despite some challenges with our recording equipment (and we tested it and everything!), Ari and Chris sit down to review the feedback Chris has gotten from his peers and his vet-approved plan f...

Episode 121: Urine Big Trouble, Mister! from 2022-08-11T09:00:01

Keeping it short and simple this week: Chris is alone in a hotel room somewhere in the Northeast and only has one thing on his mind - "how do I stop one of my cats from peeing all over the place...

Episode 120: What Are Your Zoo Job "Can't Live Withouts"? from 2022-08-04T08:00

After a quick discussion of sea turtles and supper clubs, Ari and Chris use a recent "what do I need to buy for my first animal job?" post on the internet as a prompt to share our personal "can'...

Episode 119: Flexibility, Operationalized from 2022-07-28T08:00:59

It's an Ari solo-cast focused on being flexible! With COVID numbers going up once again, being flexible is as important as ever. Ari talks about being flexible on-stage for dealing with weather,...

Episode 118: Relationship Death By a Thousand Cuts from 2022-07-21T21:05:50

Two hosts for two epsiodes in a row? Amazing! After an update from Ari about the IAATE Midyear Meeting at the Peregine Fund, Chris opens a communication can o' worms by sharing his thoughts on t...

Episode 117: Three Ways to Violate the Known Laws of the Space-Time Continuum from 2022-07-14T09:00:54

Chris and Ari are back in the office and talking into the same microphone! Inspired by an insane summer schedule, the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope, and the wisdom of the Lead...

Episode 116: How to Ask for a Raise (with Scott Trauger) from 2022-07-07T09:00:05

Ari sits down with NEI Supervisor Scott Trauger to tackle one of the trickiest questions that applies to everyone across our industry: how do you ask for a raise? Ari and Scott chat salaries, an...

Episode 115: The Official Chris Jenkins Super Simplified Guide to Behavior™ from 2022-06-30T09:37:04

Greetings from the future! Due to challenges with the space/time continuum, we're once again Ari-less this week, but it gives Chris the chance to reflect on his time in New Zealand with the awes...

Episode 114: On Mavericks and Martyrs (with Carrie Patel) from 2022-06-23T08:12:17

Recorded in Los Angeles, edited in Tahiti, and posted in New Zealand, it's a special two-part episode of the TEC Talk Podcast! 

For Part 1, Chris sits down to chat with Obsidean Entertain...

Episode 113: Catch-Up Mini-Sode (Live from... Taco Bell!) from 2022-06-16T08:00:31

Chris and Ari catch each other up on their recently work travels in Minnesota and the Bahamas, discuss some special upcoming trips in the works for July, and share their go-to menu items from Ta...

Episode 112: Don't Forget - This is FUN! (with Donnie Crook) from 2022-06-09T08:00:35

Chris is back on the road and joined by Minnesota Zoo Interpretive Naturalist Donnie Crook! We chat about Donnie's history in the professional animal care world, the unique challenges (and oppor...

Episode 111: Happy World Parrot Day! (with NEI's Winged Encounters Team) from 2022-06-02T09:00:41

In honor of World Parrot Day, Chris is joined by Katelyn, Megan, Kamille, Keegan, Lizzi, and Aaron from NEI's Winged Encounters team to talk all the work they're doing right now to train a dozen ne...

Episode 110: "Real Chat (About Shows) with Ray and Ari" (with Ray Minchey) from 2022-05-26T09:00:15

With Chris in the middle of an unexpected Round 2 with COVID, Ari loops in return guest Ray Minchy to chat about all things show related and being on stage for the first time at a new show. They...

Episode 109: When Reality and Your Training Plans Don't Play Nice Together from 2022-05-19T08:00:55

Fresh out of COVID quarantine, Chris harnesses the power of the internet from Minnesota to summon Ari from Texas to bring YOU another episode of TEC Talk! After comparing the relative merits of ...

Episode 108: Downspout Sparrow (with Hardy Kern) from 2022-05-12T08:00:25

Join Ari as she chats with longtime listener and friend of the podcast Hardy Kern! They chat about Hardy's transition from the Columbus Zoo to his new role at the American Bird Conservancy. Hard...

Episode 107: MomCast! (with Lucy Rutt and Katie Bello) from 2022-05-05T09:37:36

Ari sits down with NEI Senior Trainers and mothers-to-be Katie and Lucy to chat about momming in the animal field. They talk about work/life balance, shifts in priorities and expectations, and b...

Episode 106: Seeing "All the Things" During Training Sessions from 2022-04-28T09:00:03

Ari and Chris convene to talk about what it really means to "see behavior" during a training session. So many nooks and crannies to explore in this one: when your training plan can get in the wa...

Episode 105: ...Is This a Restaurant? (with Adam Geltz) from 2022-04-21T09:00:29

Chris is in Minnesota, but through the magic of technology he is joined, live via satellite from Texas, by Ari and NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk about the consulting work we're all doing...

Episode 104: Should You "Always End on a Positive Note"? from 2022-04-14T09:00:28

After discussing scent-based side hustles and the joys of trusting strangers on the internet, Chris and Ari tackle a common belief in animal training: that you should always end a training sessi...

Episode 103: Telling Stories to Make Connections (with Ron Magill) from 2022-04-07T09:00:30

This is a super exciting episiode - not because Chris and Ari are back together in the same office for the first time in over a month, but because they're joined by a super cool guest, Zoo Miami...

Episode 102: This Water is 'The Good Blue' (with Meg Meyer) from 2022-03-31T12:06:59

The Month of Infinite Travel continues as Ari teams up with NEI Senior Trainer Meg Meyer to talk about the two flights, long drive, and boat trip that got them to a consulting project in the Bah...

Episode 101: Take Your PTO! (with Lucy Rutt) from 2022-03-24T14:22:52

It's another GIRLCAST! This time Ari hangs out with NEI Senior Trainer Lucy Rutt at the Homewood Suites in Tyler, TX, to talk about NEI's ongoing project at Caldwell Zoo. They dive into celebrat...

Episode 100: Here's to a "Play to Grow" Future! (with Steve Martin and the TEC Talks Collective) from 2022-03-17T06:00:14

We made it! Chris and Ari sit down with Steve Martin to chat about the history of the TEC Talk podcast, to reflect on the special contributions sent in by some of the past presenters from our TE...

Episode 99.5: Welcome to the President's Board Room (Live from the 2022 IAATE Conference) from 2022-03-10T16:43:18

With Chris in California, Ari talks with the attendees of the IAATE 30th Annual Conference as they kick off the week at their Ice Breaker event in this special "half episode" leading up to next ...

Episode 99: Ya'll, It Has Been a Week (with Sukie Jenkins) from 2022-03-03T10:00:26

Chris takes a pause from the madness of the week to walk his dog and share some of the details of what has been a very busy, very interesting week. 

Have something you'd like to ask us or...

Episode 98: Lunch and Learn - The S-Delta, Punishment, and Extinction (with Dr Susan Friedman) from 2022-02-24T10:00:35

Welcome to our Lunch and Learn! After last week's questions involving the terminology and procedures that surround the use of the S-Delta, we partnered with Dr Susan Friedman (Behaviorworks.org)...

Episode 97: A Training Plan for Talking About Training (with Adam Geltz) from 2022-02-17T12:54:25

Ari and Chris are joined by NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk about talking about training. We discuss the use of jargon, knowing your audience, when to table a conversation until later, and...

Episode 96: Tales from the (Renovated) Trailer from 2022-02-10T10:00:32

Ari is back in town, so we play catch up using a new recording setup in our freshly renovated office - who knew taking down a wall and moving some desks around could make such a difference? Ari ...

Episode 95: Don't Overshoot Your Joy (with Greg Peccie) from 2022-02-03T10:00:02

While Ari braves the wilds of Texas, Chris is joined by Greg Peccie, Curator of Mammals at the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens! Greg shares how his animal career started (as it does for so many of us...

Episode 94: From Mentee to Mentor to Mentee (with Kaitlyn Wiktor) from 2022-01-27T10:00:45

Ari and Chris are joined by frequent podcast emailer Kaitlyn Wiktor! After chatting with Kait about the journey to her current position as Manager of Behavioral Husbandry and Welfare at Omaha's Hen...

Episode 93: Let's All Be Dumb Together (with Joe Quadara) from 2022-01-20T10:00

It's "Round 2" as we welcome back studio director, video game dev consultant, and all-around rad dude Joe Quadara! Ari and Chris sit down with Joe to discuss the broad topic of growth for teams ...

Episode 92: The Politics of Open Communication (with Wouter Stellaard) from 2022-01-13T10:00

Ari and Chris are joined by their friend, mentor, and all-around amazing guy Wouter Stellaard! Wouter tells us about how his journey into the field started with an oiled bird on a beach in Holla...

Episode 91: General Honesty, Reporting for Duty from 2022-01-06T10:00

It's "Tales from the Trailer" time! Ari and Chris carve out a slice of the day to answer your questions about Steve Martin's feelings about Taylor Swift, our DnD character classes, and what it m...

Episode 90: Your Homework for Winter Break from 2021-12-30T10:00

We're back! With Ari on the mend, we get together (virtually) to assign some "Winter Break Homework" for everyone: our recommendations for articles, books, hobbies, and hopes for the new year! B...

Episode 89: A Very Merry COVIDcast (with Ellen Matza, Megan Geddes, and Aaron Rose) from 2021-12-23T12:56:30

Well...it finally happened.

The OhMyCorn variant is no joke and has descended upon NEI. Ari eats some chocolate hoping that her loss of taste means she likes it (spoiler alert: she does n...

Episode 88: Chop the Log! (with Aaron "Rose" Tapia) from 2021-12-16T10:00

Welcome to the TEC Talk Podcast, with your host, Aaron Rose! Aaron asked to take over the podcast so he could grill Ari and Chris about how much we know about each other, and who are we to say n...

Episode 87: Who Cares, Just Reinforce It Already! (w/ Dr. Grey Stafford) from 2021-12-09T10:00

Ari and Chris are super excited to be joined by animal trainer, author, and fellow podcaster, Dr. Grey Stafford! We sit down to chat about Grey's early days in the marine mammal world, his long-...

Episode 86: The Birds and the Bees (with Morgan Belle) from 2021-12-02T10:00

With Ari away at the 2021 ZAA Annual Conference, Chris is joined by "newly former" NEI Trainer Morgan Belle! This was Morgan's last week with the company, so we take some time to discuss how her...

Episode 85: Birdability! (with Virginia Rose) from 2021-11-25T10:00

Ari is joined by Virginia Rose, Founder and President of Birdability, a non-profit organization whose mission is to share the joys of birding with people...

Episode 84: Leveling Up Your Work Culture (with Joe Quadara) from 2021-11-18T10:00

In one of the best and most random episodes we're ever recorded, Chris and Ari are joined by game dev consultant Joe Quadara! After reading a bit about Joe's history in the video game industry, ...

Episode 83: Live from The Training Game! from 2021-11-11T10:00

Workshop NIGHT! Live from our first in-person workshop in two years, it's the TEC Talk Podcast! With Chris out of town, Ari is joined by the staff and attendees of NEI's Professional Contemporar...

Episode 82: At 4 O'Clock, It's Different Soup (with Ellen Matza) from 2021-11-04T09:00

Chris and Ari are joined by fellow NEI-er Ellen Matza to discuss the following training scenario: when you're working with an animal and you're not getting the behavior you're looking for, is it...

Episode 81: It's All Real (with Dave O'Connell) from 2021-10-28T09:00

Ari is back and she's brought a guest, Bearizona Wildlife Park's own Dave O'Connell! Dave shares how he got into the field (thanks, Dave's mom!), the job he has now (which is actually all of the...

Episode 80: Career Ping Pong (with Sylvia Ronquillo) from 2021-10-21T09:00

They said it couldn't be done: a "Tales from the Trailer" episode that also has a cool guest who's not from NEI! Chris is joined by National Aviary Senior Aviculturist Sylvia Ronquillo to talk a...

Episode 79: TEC Talk Live! (The Pilot Episode) from 2021-10-14T09:00

Two hosts is fun, but what if we just invited...everyone?!? This week's episode is a pilot for a concept we've been kicking around for awhile of opening up the show to anyone who wants to attend...

Episode 78: We Built a Zoo (with Adam Geltz) from 2021-10-07T09:00

Ari and Chris are joined once again by NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk all things fishing, video games, instrumental hip hop, and laziness (which, it turns out, doesn't exist). After Adam ...

Episode 77: How DO You Find "The One"? from 2021-09-30T09:00

Tales from the Trailer returns for the second week in a row! Ari and Chris speculate about the possible international names for koozies, take phone calls about refrigerator deliveries, do an ama...

Episode 76: Retro Big Tex from 2021-09-23T09:00

Tales from the Trailer time! Chris and Ari take a break from shows to read your emails, which leads to a discussion about how we navigate "the calling" of working in a field that demands a lot o...

Episode 75: Mistakes Were Made... (with Shari Stern) from 2021-09-16T09:00

Ari and Chris are joined by Shari Stern, Education Director for The Raptor Trust, to discuss dealing with mistakes: what we do when we make them, how to walk the line between taking responsibili...

Episode 74: The Pitfalls of "Romanticizing Suffering" (with Brad Moore) from 2021-09-09T09:00

Ari and Chris are joined by NEI Senior Trainer Brad Moore to talk about fishing, his early love of "wed bwested wobbins," and his professional history and learnings as we do an unplanned deep di...

Episode 73: Of COURSE You Need Your Own Axe! (with Mary Ewers Joyner) from 2021-09-02T09:00

Ari and Chris are joined by Mary Ewers Joyner, Avian Program Curator for Lorain County Metro Parks! Mary shares her history in the field and her facility's relationship with NEI, talks about her...

Episode 72: It's Just Good Humaning (with Amy Fennell) from 2021-08-26T09:00

Ari and Chris are joined once more by NEI Supervisor Amy Fennell to reflect on last week's episode about trust accounts (and to tell HER SIDE of the great "Dan and Amy Saga"), to update us on th...

Episode 71: We Can Chew Ice, It's Fine (with Dan Blair) from 2021-08-19T09:00

Chris and Ari are reunited by the power of the internet, and they're joined by NEI Senior Trainer Dan Blair! Dan shares his history with NEI and how improv made him a better stage presenter befo...

Episode 70: Parenting in the Pandemic's Second Wave (with Lisa Haggadone) from 2021-08-12T09:00

Chris sits down with NEI Senior Trainer Lisa Haggadone to talk about her experience as an animal trainer AND mom during this wonderful second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that we all find ourse...

Episode 69: Anatomy of a Pilot Program (with Scott Trauger and Corey Derryberry) from 2021-08-05T09:00

Hot on the heels of our show about "moving the needle" (see Episode 67), Chris sits down with NEI Supervisors Sc...

Episode 68: Board Pod! (with the IAATE Board) from 2021-07-29T09:00

Ari takes over hosting duties and is joined by the Board of IAATE! Cassie Malina, Helen Dishaw, Miguel Santos, and Steve Martin share their personal histories with IAATE, reflect on the way the ...

Episode 67: Begone, Comfort Zones! from 2021-07-22T06:00

Look everybody, I'm gonna need your help with this one. 

Chris here, recording solo in Arizona and reflecting on some ideas about the importance of getting outside your comfort zone for p...

Episode 66: Where Are My Invert Peeps?? from 2021-07-15T06:00

Ari goes solo once more to reflect on her early training history with reptiles and encourages listeners to share the cool stuff they're doing these days training herps, fish, and inverts. After ...

Episode 65: Meditations on Mediation from 2021-07-08T23:21:10

As they wait in their trailer to be pummeled by their daily afternoon thunderstorm, Ari and Chris sit down to discuss the topic of mediation. While we've spent a lot of time on this show talking...

Episode 64: Everyone Should Work Retail from 2021-07-01T13:19:14

Ari and Chris sit down to chat about the importance of being good partners with the other teams, departments, and organizations we collaborate with. They discuss the advantages of being a "yes c...

Episode 63: The "F" Word We're Allowed to Say (with Jessica Ruiz) from 2021-06-24T09:00

With Ari on assignment in Nebraska, Chris sits down to chat with Jessica Ruiz, frequent podcast emailer and Aviary Education Specialist at Grey Snow Eagle House. We talk about Jessica's path tha...

Episode 62: Why Are You Still Here??? (with Corey Derryberry) from 2021-06-17T09:00

Ari sits down with NEI Supervisor Corey Derryberry on his 13th anniversary with the company! They chat about Corey's path to joining and becoming a leader with NEI. the importance of investing i...

Episode 61: The Call In Conundrum from 2021-06-10T09:00

As a wave of non-COVID illness washes over their staff, Ari and Chris sit down to discuss a consistent challenge that faces people who work in animal care: when you get sick, do you call in or n...

Episode 60: Our Favorite Condor Mom (with Helen Dishaw) from 2021-06-03T09:00

Ari and Chris are joined by one of their favorite people in the zoological world, Helen Dishaw! Helen shares her journey from being an animal-crazy kid in the UK to her current role as Curator o...

Episode 59: Assessing Welfare for Our Teams from 2021-05-28T01:33:13

What if we took the AZA definition of "welfare" and applied it to the two-legged creatures we share our days with? Ari and Chris attempt to come up with a human welfare assessment tool in less t...

Episode 58: "Good Communication" Operationalized from 2021-05-20T09:00

"Good communication" as a concept is fine and all, but what does that LOOK like? Ari and Chris put their heads together to discuss some of the observable behaviors associated with things like ac...

Episode 57: The Flyoff Episode! from 2021-05-13T20:40:56

Chris and Ari FINALLY make time to sit down amidst the controlled chaos of a one of the most unique parts of bird training: a flyoff! We discuss what it looks like for us humans when our birds d...

Episode 56: I Appreciate You! (Live from the 2021 ABMA Conference) from 2021-05-06T09:00

Live from the Happy Hour of the final day of the 2021 ABMA Conference, it's the TEC Talk podcast! Chris is joined by newly minted President Elect of the Animal Behavior Management Alliance, Scot...

Episode 55: Everybody Has an Opinion on Ghosts (with Kat Donald) from 2021-04-29T06:00

Ari and Chris are joined by elephant keeper/aquarium builder/horse enthusiast/dog trainer Kat Donald! Kat tells us about her journey to becoming the hardest working person in the animal field (s...

Episode 54: Greetings from NEI West! (with Katie Bello, Amy Zimmerman, and Kyle Alexander) from 2021-04-22T07:00

It's a cross-country matchup of "Bearizona East" (aka NEI) and "NEI West" (aka Bearizona) as Chris sits down with NEI Senior Trainer Katie Bello and Bearizona Program Animal Supervisors Amy Zimm...

Episode 53: Why Does This Audience Hate Us??? from 2021-04-15T09:00

It's "Tales from the Trailer" time! Ari and Chris share a mic and grab some lunch to discuss that oh-so-wonderful experience of audience interactions that just do...not...go...well.

Can y...

Episode 52: Happy Podcast-iversary! from 2021-04-08T09:00

Happy Birthday, TEC Talk!! Ari and Chris reflect on learnings from a year of change, growth, and innovation. Big thanks goes out to everyone that's followed us on this journey - here's to the ne...

Episode 51: Cocktails and Conversations (with NYC AAZK) from 2021-04-01T01:59

This time we're the guests! Ari and Chris join John Scott and the NYC chapter of AAZK to talk about guest interaction, improving relationships and communication, and the importance of creating "...

Episode 50: The "Falcondry" Episode (with Abbey and Joe Krumrie) from 2021-03-25T09:00

50 episodes, woo hoo!! Ari and Chris are joined by the founders of River Valley Raptors Inc., Abbey and Joe Krumrie, to talk all things...

Episode 49: Monkey High Five! (with Erik Montgomery) from 2021-03-19T00:52:27

Chris sits down with the Natural Encounters Conservation Fund's Director of Operations Erik Montgomery to talk about his background working with elephants in the circus, his current role as a "j...

Episode 48: The Great "Four 10s" Debate from 2021-03-11T07:02:09

Ari and Chris put their heads together to discuss the pros and cons - and their personal experiences and feelings - related to one of the great debates of the professional animal care field: fiv...

Episode 47: What's Your Gyprock? (Live from the 2021 IAATE Conference) from 2021-03-05T05:33:45

Happy virtual conference week! Chris and Ari are joined by dozens of wonderful animal people from around the world for a Zoom happy hour, live from the virtual hospitality suite of the 2021 IAAT...

Episode 46: From Gator Wrestling to Jurassic Park (with Marco Zeno) from 2021-02-25T10:00

Ari and Chris (who will learn to check his mic settings one day) are joined by one of their favorite people, Marco Zeno! Marco talks about his crazy history in the animal field, starting with hi...

Episode 45: The Motivation Conversation from 2021-02-18T15:26:03

Ari and Chris are back together, socially distanced of course, for another episode! This week we dig into the NEI archives to discuss Steve Martin's paper "What's the Motivation?" We talk about ...

Episode 44: Expanding Your Bubble (with Scott Trauger) from 2021-02-11T06:07:50

Ari is joined by NEI Supervisor (and resident Man Who Never Sleeps) Scott Trauger to talk about professional development as it relates to some of the major professional animal care and training ...

Episode 43: Everyone's A Mentor (with Adam Geltz) from 2021-02-04T06:44:05

Live, from Arizona, it's TEC Talk Nights! Chris is joined on location by NEI Senior Trainer Adam Geltz to talk about his history in the animal field, our experience working together to build a n...

Episode 42: The Problems with Labels from 2021-01-28T15:58:30

It's another "Tales from the Trailer" episode as Ari and Chris discuss the problems with labels! This one touches on a lot, including anthropomorphism, problems solving, team communication, and ...

Episode 41: Making Connections with BIG Ideas (with Len Austrevich) from 2021-01-21T15:46:18

Comedian/writer/all around awesome guy Len Austrevich joins us to talk about his background in standup and comedy, his connections with the animal field, and the amazing work he's doing with Listen

Episode 40: The Joy of Being Alone from 2021-01-14T05:31:38

With Chris on a top secret mission for NEI, Ari goes solo to reflect on the insanity of the last week, to share some things she's excited about, and to reflect on the joy (and importance) of bei...

Episode 39: What We've Learned and Where We're Going from 2021-01-07T14:05:57

Happy 2021! For the first episode of the new year we have something special: the audio from this week's NEI TEC in Conversation panel discussion, "What We've Learned and Where We're Going." We g...

Episode 38: 2020 Can Go Kick Rocks from 2020-12-31T10:00

Ari and Chris kick 2020 to the curb with our final episode of the year! We talk about some changes coming to the show in 2021, some wrap up thoughts on the inaugural of the podcast, and reflect ...

Episode 37: Q and A and Q (with Hardy Kern) from 2020-12-24T10:00

Ari and Chris are joined by long-time TEC Talk supporter Hardy Kern to talk about his role at the Columbus Zoo, his connection to both current and former NEI staff members, working alongside Jac...

Episode 36: Finding Success Beyond "The Field" (with Kevin Zimmer and Flannery O'Brien) from 2020-12-17T10:00

Flannery O'Brien returns along with fellow former NEI-er Kevin Zimmer to discuss life after leaving the animal field. They talk about the ways their animal experience helped prepare them for the...

Episode 35: The 16 Personalities of NEI (with Scott Trauger) from 2020-12-10T10:00

Chris (INFP-A) and Ari (ENFP-A) sit down with NEI Supervisor Scott Trauger (ESTJ-T) to discuss the ins and outs of the "personality types" survey at the website 16Personalities.com. We discuss a...

Episode 34: Merry Enrichmas! from 2020-12-03T10:00

So long GROWvember, hello Enrichmas! Chris and Ari reflect on last month's emphasis on staff growth and discuss the start of Enrichmas, our annual tradition of working together to recognize the ...

Episode 33: Giving Thanks in 2020 from 2020-11-26T10:00

As this weird, wild year starts to come to a close, we wanted to take a moment to share some of the things that the NEI team are thankful for in 2020. Whether at work with your animals or at hom...

Episode 32: Show Performance Review (in Review) from 2020-11-19T17:00

Chris and Ari (aka "Bill") sit down between shows for a "Tales from the Trailer" episode where we discuss working with Len Austrevich, a writer and comedian from Chicago who came out to watch ou...

Episode 31: Breaking Glass Ceilings (with Erin Katzner) from 2020-11-12T17:00

Chris is on vacation so Ari is joined by Erin Katzner, Director of Global Engagement at The Peregrine Fund and Past-President of IAATE! Get to know more about an amazing woman in our field, her ...

Episode 30: Welcome to Growvember! from 2020-11-05T10:00

Ari and Chris sit down for our 30th episode to discuss a very special time at NEI - Growvember! We give some backstory on this month-long commitment to staff growth and development, share some e...

Episode 29: A "Macarena"-Dancing Bigfoot Underneath a Bridge from 2020-10-29T09:00

Happy Spooky Season! Chris and Ari throw caution to the wind and invite the whole world to be guests on the show, and what results is nothing short of amazing! We're joined by Dr. Kat Gregory, E...

Episode 28: Everything We (Don't) Know About Empathy from 2020-10-22T16:00

Chris returns from the dead to chat with Ari about empathy, a topic which it turns out is a lot more complicated than you might think. It's a fun chat that touches on a lot of TEC Talk staples -...

Episode 27: GIRLCAST!!! (with Ray Minchey) from 2020-10-15T09:00

Chris is away, so the ladies get to play as Ari takes over as host and - by popular request! - sits down with NEI's own Ray Minchey to talk about mental health and work-life balance. This episod...

Episode 26: Space Giraffe at Animal World (with Amy Fennell) from 2020-10-08T14:19:59

Ari and Chris are joined by NEI Supervisor and resident Renaissance Woman Amy Fennell to talk about her background with birds, her reflections on helping us create NEI TEC from the ground up, an...

Episode 25: Rhinos and Roshams (with Lisa Haggadone) from 2020-10-01T01:42:18

We made it to episode 25 - woo hoo! Ari's on special assignment, so Chris sits down with NEI Senior Trainer Lisa Haggadone to talk about her history in the field, her experiences helping us buil...

Episode 24: Zen and the Art of Lawn Care from 2020-09-24T03:35:16

Oh boy, we are all over the place in this one! After a detailed chat about the challenges of summertime lawn care in Orlando, Chris and Ari discuss our personal and professional strategies for p...

Episode 23: The Shape of Things to Come from 2020-09-17T16:00

Ari and Chris sit down to chat about the weird stuff in their office and their feelings about different COVID mask styles before a quick (but surprisingly in-depth) discussion about shaping as a...

Episode 22: Futures Beyond the Field (with Flannery O'Brien) from 2020-09-10T16:00

You know what no one in the animal field talks about? People leaving it. We sit down with all-around amazing person Flannery O'Brien during her last week with NEI before moving on to a new life ...

Episode 21: The NEI Comedy Hour! (with Steve Martin) from 2020-09-03T16:00

After a 20-episode hiatus, NEI President and CEO Steve Martin makes his triumphant return to talk about the importance of comedy in producing fun and engaging animal shows. We chat about how com...

Episode 20: Gators and Ramen and Feedback - Oh My! from 2020-08-27T16:00

Chris and Ari sit six feet apart and talk about Ari's visit to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, Chris' first trip to a restaurant since the beginning of the pandemic, and discuss your questions...

Episode 19: Interview Lightning Round! (Part I) from 2020-08-20T16:00

Ari and Chris welcome to the show....everyone! In our first NEI "Interview Lightning Round" episode, we sit down for quick mini-interviews with Ray Minchey, Kevin O'Brien, Aaron Tapia, Scott Tra...

Episode 18: How to Read Minds and Influence People from 2020-08-13T16:00

Ari and Chris sit down to share some of the things they've learned about communication and what you can do as an individual to become a better leader, coworker, teammate, and supporter of others...

Episode 17: Your Podcast Dose of Vitamin Z (with Tim Van Loan) from 2020-08-06T16:00

Ari and Chris chat with NEI Supervisor Tim Van Loan to talk about the unique reason why he's worked for NEI twice, his current role as the Behavior and Enrichment Manager at the Albuquerque BioP...

Episode 16: You Get What You Reinforce from 2020-07-30T16:00

Ari is back! The duo discusses quarantine updates and the importance of voting before doing a dive into our commonly used phrase "you get what you reinforce" and the implications it has for trai...

Episode 15: Snake Hooks and Smiles (with Aaron Tapia) from 2020-07-23T17:48

With Ari away, the gents will play! Chris is joined by fellow NEI trainer Aaron Tapia to talk about his background in theater and how it lead to a career with animals, his love for reptiles and ...

Episode 14: Nerding Out (with Ash Sevilla) from 2020-07-16T16:30:16

After some obligatory chat about quarantine life, Ari and Chris are joined by their friend Ash Sevilla to talk about his podcast for the website Nerd Appropriate (Listen

Episode 13: Our NEI Top "10," Part 2! from 2020-07-09T16:00

After some chat about quarantine life and some details on the new show NEI is about to open, Chris and Ari return to the discussion of some of their personal favorite "NEI Moments." And look at ...

Episode 12: Fun with NE(Alumn)I! (with John Scott) from 2020-07-02T16:00

Ari and Chris are joined by their good buddy and former coworker John Scott to talk about their shared history at NEI, our memories of our first shows as presenters at "that show in Central Flor...

Episode 11: Behind the Scenes of NEI TEC (with...Everyone!) from 2020-06-25T16:00

Enjoy this "peak behind the curtain" at NEI TEC! All our webinar and online course sessions are preceded by a short staff "meeting" to confirm details and last minute changes, test videos and on...

Episode 10: Our Not-So-Secret Life of Pets from 2020-06-18T16:00

Ari and Chris are back at work, so welcome to the first episode recorded with our hosts in the same room! We discuss the non-work animals in our lives, how pet ownership and fostering has change...

Episode 9: Parrot Conservation (with Jose Antonio Diaz) from 2020-06-12T16:10:47

Take two! Ari and Chris sit down (again) with Jose Antonio Diaz, Executive Director of Parrot Conservation Bolivia (CLB), an organization that works towards the conservation of several highly en...

Episode 8.5: Technical Difficulties! from 2020-06-11T16:00

Well, this is disappointing. Just a quick episode to let everyone know that the audio gods weren't with us as recorded this week and the file just isn't usable, BUT we're going to re-record our ...

Episode 8: Support, Inclusion, and Community from 2020-06-04T16:45:52

We're back! Ari and Chris explain the story behind the recent bonus episode with our co-workers Flannery and Kyle, discuss how the current social unrest in the US has created a new opportunity t...

BONUS EPISODE: Well Wishes From NEI! (w/ Flannery and Kyle) from 2020-05-29T23:31:26

Just a quick, special episode to tell everyone out there we're thinking about you, we appreciate you, and we hope you're staying safe and sane! We'll be back next week with our regularly schedul...

Episode 7: The Right Fit (with Benita Raphan) from 2020-05-28T16:05:08

Chris and Ari are joined by teacher, filmmaker, dog trainer, and resident "podcast email question asker" Benita Raphan about the unique path that brought her to training and NEI, and tackle some...

Episode 6: Collaboration Celebration (with Dave Miller) from 2020-05-21T16:00

Chris and Ari are joined by bird trainer, IAATE President, and creator of the new TEC Talk theme music, Dave Miller, to talk about the importance of collaboration. We discuss the cool projects h...

Episode 5: Origin Stories from 2020-05-14T16:00

Chris and Ari reflect on NEI TEC's recently completed Ambassador Animal Training and Welfare course, interview each other about our pre-NEI histories with animal behavior and training, and respo...

Episode 4: Growth in the Time of COVID (with Megan Geddes) from 2020-05-07T16:00

Ari and Chris welcome NEI Senior Trainer Megan Geddes to talk about her pre-NEI history and the projects she's been a part of with our company over the last 5 years. We also answer a listener em...

Episode 3: Our NEI Top "10" from 2020-04-30T16:00

After some discussion about what "reopening" our country might mean for those of us in the zoological industry, Ari and Chris share their "Top 10" (ok, really only 4) moments from their history ...

Episode 2: Happy Earth Day! (with Steve Martin) from 2020-04-23T16:00

Chris and Ari are joined by NEI President and CEO Steve Martin to talk about his history with Earth Day, the importance of conservation, and the history of our non-profit sister organization, th...

Episode 1: Tales from the Feedback Loop from 2020-04-16T16:00

Welcome to Episode 1! Chris and Ari discuss graceful mistake-making, the importance of self-correction, and being an active participant in a feedback loop with members of your team. 

Episode 0: Welcome to TEC Talk! from 2020-04-08T15:12:25

Welcome to TEC Talk, a weekly podcast from the staff of the Natural Encounters Inc. Training and Education Center (NEI-TEC)! Join co-hosts Chris and Ari as they discuss their plans for the show ...