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PODCAST · science

The Pondcast

by theTurtleRoom

The Pondcast was created to tackle topics related to reptile conservation and the reptile trade. Hosted by our own crew of “turtle nerds”, The Pondcast brings you its own brand of hilarity interspersed between the educational and informative discussions that are the centerpiece of each episode. In addition to audio-only versions available on your favorite podcast sites, The Pondcast is broadcast LIVE on YouTube and Facebook each month. You can watch the video versions at https://youtube.com/theturtleroom.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Mar 4, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Of Time and Turtles

    In this episode, our hosts are joined by National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author, Sy Montgomery, and her long-time partner, artist Matt Patterson, who is also a close friend of theTurtleRoom. You won't want to miss this amazing episode!

  2. Chelonian Propagation Program

    Cameron Lamb joins us in tonight's show to talk about his projects, including what he's doing with the TTPG and their Chelonian Propagation Program.

  3. Eating Ice Cream and Rambling

    Join the Pondcast team for another great show, this time full of random ramblings all about turtles!.

  4. A Very Special Episode

    Tune in for a very special episode as we celebrate the 100th episode of The Pondcast. We're excited to have a wide variety of personalities join us during the show as we reminisce and look to the future.

  5. A Bonus Episode

    Anthony, EmmaLee and Steve are together for a bonus episode! Join them as they discuss their recent experiences almost dying during field research and swimming with Whale Sharks!

  6. Conscientious Herpetoculture

    Tom Arbour brings a wealth of diverse experiences to Episode 98 and we're super excited to have him join our team of hosts for what should be another great episode of The Pondcast.

  7. Animal Planet's Swamp Wars

    Jeffrey Fob joins the show to talk about a wide variety of efforts during his career with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, including the Venom One Response team, his time on Swamp Wars, and his herpetoculture hobby experiences.

  8. The Many Talents of Miranda McCleaf

    Miranda McCleaf, theTurtleRoom's Assistant Director of Field Programs, joins our hosts to talk about her day job, her art, her work with theTurtleRoom, and more!

  9. Ten Year Anniversary

    Join us as John Weir (Pondcast Creator) reunites with Anthony for a special 10th Anniversary episode!

  10. Riverside Reptiles

    Join theTurtleRoom for another Pondcast! Tonight's special guest is Brian Kleinman from Riverside Reptile and Education Center. Brian is EmmaLee's boss, but she is his better half at work, being sure to keep him in line all the time. Getting these two together and seeing them in action is a...

  11. The Turtle Lover's Guidebook

    Join theTurtleRoom for another Pondcast! Tonight's special guest is Dr. Tony Monahan, author of the highly anticipated "Turtle Lover's Guidebook." Tony has been traveling the entire country, tirelessly, in an effort to document every zoo with a worthwhile turtle collection. This resource will be…

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  12. NyQuil Time

    Join Anthony, Steve and Kevin for another Pondcast! Anthony forgot after work that he had a Pondcast that night. Kevin struggles with timeliness again. This episode will go down in history as the low point against which all other bad episodes will be measured.

  13. ESA... Oh My!

    Join Anthony, Kevin, and Steve for another Pondcast! Well, maybe Kevin will be there. No promises.

  14. "Say 'Goodnight,' Kevin"

    Join Anthony, Kevin, and Steve for another Pondcast! Well, maybe Kevin will be there. No promises.

  15. Just the Two of Us

    Join Anthony and Steve as they "talk turtles". Who knows where the show will go!

  16. Daniel Parker of USARK Florida

    This month, Daniel Parker joins The Pondcast to discuss one of the biggest issues of concern to private keepers and conservationists - potential legal changes in Florida and beyond.

  17. Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group with Dr. Craig Stanford

    This month, we are joined by Dr. Craig Stanford. Craig is Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at University of Southern California, studying both primates and chelonians.

  18. Ep. 86: The Best Listen in Reptile Podcasts - Dr. Zac Loughman

    Tonight, Anthony and Steve sit down with everyone's favorite reptile loving academic, Dr. Zac Loughman.

  19. Ep. 85: The Changing Times

    This month, your hosts discuss reptile hobbyists, legislation, and their impact on each other.

  20. Ep. 84: Those Who Wait

    This month, your hosts talk about an exciting first for Anthony and theTurtleRoom, following more than a decade of patience.

  21. Ep. 83: Mystery Guest

    The team visits with their good friend Kevin Pollack - one of the most knowledgeable reptile people you've never heard of. For that reason, we joking call him the "mystery guest."

  22. Ep. 82: Happy Holidays 2021

    The Pondcast Hosts gather "around the fire" to share stories and celebrate.

  23. Ep. 81: Just Hanging Out

    Anthony and Steve go it on their own. There goes the neighborhood!

  24. Ep. 79: Captive Animal Welfare

    In this episode, the team chats with Ryan Dumas, the Head Keeper of the Herpetology and Fish at the Cincinnati Zoo. Ryan is very experienced in reptiles and their care, and has a love and appreciation for turtles and tortoises.

  25. Ep. 78: Horses and Turtles

    Charlie is a great friend of theTurtleRoom and a well respected animal expert who made his name in the equestrian world. His passion is endangered species and education and he has a strong focus on turtles and tortoises.

  26. Ep. 77: Guestless in Seatlle

    Due to unforeseen circumstances, our intrepid turtle heroes find themselves guestless (though none of us are actually in Seattle). Join us for a fun night of sharing stories, updates, and silliness as we begin the crescendo towards celebrating theTurtleRoom's 10th anniversary!

  27. Ep. 76: The Next Generation

    A torch bearer for a younger generation, Jordan Donini is a turtle academic who is taking the world by storm. His work on reproductive biology in chelonians and tireless work in the field in South Florida make him a must follow on social media.

  28. Ep. 75: Turtles and Trash

    This month, we are joined by Tyler Brooks. Tyler is a husband, father of two daughters, founding member of the Kinixys Working Group and the owner/operator of a solid waste disposal facility. In addition to what is sure to be an enjoyable conversation centered around Tyler's favorite genera,...

  29. Ep. 74: The Pinnacle of Conservation and Work/Life Balance

    The crew speaks with a hero in the conservation world, Dr. Dante Fenolio. Dr. Fenolio is an extremely accomplished underwater photographer, PhD and educator. He is also the author of “Life in the Dark,” and runs the Department of Conservation & Research for the San Antonio Zoo. We are thrilled to...

  30. Ep. 73: Film Director, Ari Taub

    In this exciting episode, your hosts are with a good friend of theirs, Ari Taub, an American film director and producer. The turtle related debates in this one get really lively, in a good way. Ari is perhaps best known for his movie, The Fallen, a 2004 war film about the perspectives of Italian,...

  31. Ep. 83: Mystery Guest

    The team visits with their good friend Kevin Pollack - one of the most knowledgeable reptile people you've never heard of. For that reason, we joking call him the "mystery guest." Kevin is a field biologist and naturalist who also breeds reptiles. He has herp experience on four continents and…

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  32. Ep. 72: Up for Air

    Christine Light is an experienced scuba diver, with around 500 dives under her belt, one of which saved someone's life! She has traveled to several points on the globe in her efforts with both wild and captive animals from whale sharks and mobula rays to rehabbing a Painted Terrapin at the…

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  33. Ep. 71: Research Scientist, Dr. Dave Hudson

    Tonight, Shannon joins the team as a special guest host to interview a college friend and very special guest, Dave Hudson, PhD. As a marine and aquatic biologist, researcher, and educator, Dr. Hudson aims to cultivate biological research, education, policy, and business interactions for marine…

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  34. Ep. 70: The Stars at Night are Big and Bright

    Carl J. Franklin, the President of the non-profit research organization Texas Turtles, joins The Pondcast to talk about his myriad experiences in herpetology. Carl is one of the most interesting men in herpetology, having spent time under the stars in locations all across the Americas and…

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  35. Ep. 69: Emzotic

    In this episode, the guys are joined by award winning animal educator and digital content creator, Emma Lock. Her YouTube channel, Emzotic, currently has over 690,000 subscribers, comprised of animal lovers and pet keepers seeking a place to learn about exotic animals and pet care. Her ‘Creature...

  36. Ep. 68: Deep in the Heart of Texas

    Viviana Ricardez is the Vice President of the non-profit research organization Texas Turtles. Viviana joins our hosts to talk about all the cool things Texas Turtles is doing to study turtles and her background going from "90s turtle nerd" to a leading expert on the turtles of Texas. The goal of...

  37. Ep. 67: Veterinary Partnerships

    The Pondcast team speaks with Diva Green, DVM, a talented exotics veterinarian from Connecticut who has partnered with tTR on care of their animals. Dr. Green is the type of veterinarian you want caring for your animals and is someone young professionals can look up to and aspire to be. We'll…

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  38. Ep. 66: Box Turtle Bonanza

    The boys sit down to talk with one of the best turtle people you've never heard of, Ken Sopher. Ken is a box turtle expert and a wealth of knowledge on many species. Tonight we pick his brain to gain as much insight into his observations as possible.

  39. Ep. 65: Husbandry Talk, Vol. 1: Playing Favorites

    The Pondcast crew introduces a new series within The Pondcast called "Husbandry Talk". Husbandry Talk shows will be focused specifically on the husbandry of a few select turtle and tortoise species. On today's show, each host will talk about the husbandry of a species or group of species selected...

  40. Ep. 64: Swamp Monsters

    Photographer, videographer, naturalist, and reptile keeper Greg Brashear of Greg's Turtle Haven joins The Pondcast team to talk Alligator Snapping Turtles and other reptiles from the Southeast United States. Like theTurtleRoom, Greg is passionate about educating others about turtles, tortoises,...

  41. Ep. 63: Reptile Podcasts

    The Pondcast's hosts talk about what makes a podcast a "reptile podcast" and banter about their favorite non-turtle reptile species. All of our hosts are reptile lovers, so why does our podcast always take a turn toward turtles, primarily? And why do snake lovers get to rule the world as reptile...

  42. Ep. 60: Turtle Planet

    Daoist monk, Yun Rou, joins his friend Anthony and the rest of The Pondcast team to talk turtles, philosophy, writing, and anything else that comes to mind. His newest book - Turtle Planet: Conservation, Extinction, and What the Fate of Turtles May Say About the Future of Humanity and our World -...

  43. Ep. 62: What is Going On?!?!

    In this episode, Anthony, Kevin and new host Chris sit down for a chat with no guests. Believe it or not, this was not due to our overall lack of likability, but instead was a calculated decision to allow listeners a chance to get to know our hosts a bit better and to introduce exciting new…

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  44. Ep. 61: Madagascar!

    In this episode, Anthony, Kevin and new host Chris interview their fellow tTR volunteer, Zach Braswell. Zach, theTurtleRoom's own Social Media Educator, joins the show to talk about his upcoming trip to Madagascar to assist the Turtle Survival Alliance at their TCC facility. Many of the animals...

  45. Ep. 59: Terrapin Conservation Initiative

    Casey Leone, Field Project Manager of theTurtleRoom's Terrapin Conservation Initiative, joins the show to discuss exciting new things happening with the project formerly known as Terrapin Nesting Project: Leeds Point.

  46. Ep. 58: IguanaLand

    Ty Park, proprietor of the upcoming IguanaLand joins to the show to talk about turtles, iguanas, and facility construction. Ty is a wealth of knowledge on lizard breeding and has considerable experience in keeping and breeding other reptiles as well. In this episode, he sits with Anthony, Kevin…

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  47. Ep. 57: theTurtleRoom Talks TTPG

    theTurtleRoom discusses the upcoming Turtle and Tortoise Preservation Group (TTPG) conference with the nicest guy in turtle nerd circles, Michael Thathuvaswamy. Michael is a keeper of turtles and tortoises from the West Coast, who is always willing to help others. He dedicates his time to help…

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  48. Ep. 56: Krazy for Kinixys

    We're getting Krazy for Kinixys with Jeremy Thompson! Jeremy is really turning heads with his Hingeback Tortoise focused work, and we are thrilled to have him on the show to discuss it. Be sure to check out his operation on FaceBook at facebook.com/kinixyscoop/ to learn more about his collection,...

  49. Ep. 55: Ralph's on the Phone

    In this video, the guys sit down with their friend Ralph Till, President of the Tampa Bay Turtle and Tortoise Society, to discuss how things are going. Ralph is one of the most successful breeders of the Egyptian Tortoise, Testudo kleinmanni, in the world and he has lectured on the subject at...

  50. Ep. 54: Slop Sinks and Stuff

    It's just Anthony and Steve in this one. They discuss what it's like to move with a collection of animals under one's care. They also talk about the "must haves" they've identified in their time keeping and breeding turtles.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

The Pondcast was created to tackle topics related to reptile conservation and the reptile trade. Hosted by our own crew of “turtle nerds”, The Pondcast brings you its own brand of hilarity interspersed between the educational and informative discussions that are the centerpiece of each episode. In addition to audio-only versions available on your favorite podcast sites, The Pondcast is broadcast LIVE on YouTube and Facebook each month. You can watch the video versions at https://youtube.com/theturtleroom.

HOSTED BY

theTurtleRoom

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Pondcast have?

The Pondcast currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Pondcast about?

The Pondcast was created to tackle topics related to reptile conservation and the reptile trade. Hosted by our own crew of “turtle nerds”, The Pondcast brings you its own brand of hilarity interspersed between the educational and informative discussions that are the centerpiece of each episode. In...

How often does The Pondcast release new episodes?

The Pondcast has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Pondcast?

You can listen to The Pondcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Pondcast?

The Pondcast is created and hosted by theTurtleRoom.
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