Join us, Ellen and Christian Weatherford, while we review your favorite species of animals and rate them out of ten in the categories of effectiveness, ingenuity and aesthetics.
More information can be found at justthezooofus.com đ
Got a species you want us to review? Submit your animal friend to us at ellen@justthezooofus.com and when we review your animal we'll give you a shoutout! đ
Cover art by Mrs. Brainbow (Taylor Gordon-Wood). Theme music by Louie Zong.
Chart trend
Position in the Nature chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#10#19JunJulAugSep
#4
all-time peak
103
days in the top 10 since Nov 2024
Latest episodes
Showing 20 ¡ updated from the feed
190: Pom-Pom Crab & Mourning Dove (REPLAY)
In this week's re-broadcast of an episode from April of 2023, Christian cheers for pom-pom crabs & Ellen explains what makes mourning doves so coo-l. We discuss how crabs
Sep 11 53 min
350: Monarch Butterfly
It's fall yall - time for Ellen and Christian to embark on a multi-generational odyssey with monarch butterflies. We discuss why butterflies are total heartstoppers and t
Sep 3 1 h 04 min
349: Clouded Leopard w/ Alice Vassallo!
Join Ellen & very special guest zookeeper and conservationist Alice Vassallo for the inside scoop on one of the worldâs most mysterious not-so-big cats. We discuss differ
Aug 27 58 min
348: Sociable Weaver
Ellen weaves her magic on sociable weavers. We discuss the three pillars of science communication, trick entrances, plane cabin pressurization, bullying for the greater g
Aug 20 52 min
347: Sea Otters w/ Kristyn Plancarte!
Join Ellen & special guest marine biologist Kristyn Plancarte for a review of the worldâs wettest weasels. We discuss beluga whalesâ fake six packs, the unique challenges
Aug 14 51 min
346: Pufferfish
Ellen is blowing up about pufferfish. We discuss what pufferfish have in common with chameleons, seafloor crop circles, culinary applications of deadly neurotoxin, and so
Aug 6 54 min
345: Conservation Stories w/ Sharon Guynup!
Join Ellen & special guest, journalist and writer Sharon Guynup, for stories from the world of conservation. Our guestâs career has taken her all over the world, from the
Jul 31 55 min
344: Kid Questions with Isaac!
Ellen & special guest Isaac answer questions from young listeners! We discuss bug guts, milking squids, the blobfish's secret Final Form, getting upped, ancient sharks wi
Jul 23 59 min
343: Synanthropes w/ Dan Werb!
Join Ellen & special guest, writer and scientist Dan Werb, for a look at the animal neighbors that have made themselves at home in our own backyards: synanthropes. The wo
Jul 16 53 min
342: Mongoose
Ellen and Christian return from their travels to review the good, the bad, and the ugly of the mongooses. We discuss the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum, historical p
Jul 9 1 h 01 min
Terrestrials: The Trio w/ Lulu Miller!
Ellen & special guest, science journalist and host of Radiolab and Terrestrials Lulu Miller, discuss the lifelong impact of science communication, review bald eagles, and
Jun 26 49 min
341: Elephant Mosquito w/ Cassandra Fieldson!
Join Ellen & special guest science communicator, infectious disease researcher, and the Khaleesi of Mosquitos for a review of some of the animal kingdomâs most controvers
Jun 18 57 min
340: Fiddler Crab
We add another string to our bow by learning about the fiddler crab. We discuss the arc of history bending towards crab, the MogBot 2000, bad dating advice, non-orientabl
Jun 12 52 min
339: Binturong w/ Rick Schwartz!
Join Ellen & special guest science communicator and ambassador for wildlife Rick Schwartz for a review of the wise old wizards of Asian forests: binturongs. We discuss ca
Jun 4 1 h 05 min
338: Seriema
Ellen gets her claws out for seriemas. We discuss terror birds, reverse mullets, sickle claws, weird scenes from Jurassic Park, golf ball physics, and so much more.
Work
May 28 48 min
337: Tree Kangaroos w/ Lisa Dabek!
Join Ellen & special guest, senior conservation scientist at Woodland Park Zoo and founder of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program Lisa Dabek, as we celebrate World Tre
May 21 59 min
336: Crawfish w/ Jack Koch!
Join Ellen & special guest, technobiologist and professor Jack Koch, for a review of the iconic crustacean known and loved by many names: the crawfish. We discuss sea har
May 15 46 min
335: Sand Cat
Ellen lets the sand cat out of the bag. We discuss dangerously approaching Hey Arnold, refusal to poop on unfamiliar toilets, blood gushers, a myth of dirty underwear, Ca
May 6 58 min
Bonus Content Free Samples! (2026)
Curious about the exclusive bonus content for Maximum Fun members? Enjoy some free samples from special episodes: "All Fun and Games with Isaac," "Just the Two of Us," an
Apr 30 55 min
334: Animals in Space w/ Let's Learn Everything!
Ellen & special guests, Ella Hubber and Tom Lum of Letâs Learn Everything, turn our gazes to the skies and talk animals in space. We discuss the fruit fly fan club, the g
Apr 29 1 h 08 min
Chart positions
Where Just the Zoo of Us ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 11, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
This podcast is so fun, wholesome, and nerdy, and Iâm so here for it! Between getting giddy hearing about my favorite animals and learning cool facts about new favorites with lovely hosts and guests, this show is everything I hoped it would be and more.
EstrangedEmerald ¡ Dec 2024
This is my all-time favorite! Hands down.
The hosts bring a boatload of fun information in such an engaging and joyful way â it serves to get the listener so excited about nature: to explore the quirks and subtleties of our fellow creatures with a playful sense of wonder and respect.
Weâre so lucky to have all these amazing animals alongside us, but even more lucky to have these two lovely hosts describing them to us in such a fun, insightful, and informative way.
One thousand out of ten stars.
Jclamp ¡ Nov 2024
Review from Charlie, age 6 and 3/4: âI love this show! Itâs the best animal podcast that Iâve heard.â He also wants you to know that we often listen on car trips, so you can feel like youâre traveling with us. He says if you hadnât done a dung beetle episode he would have requested one because heâs very interested in them!
Listener in the US ¡ Aug 2024
This show is so great, I truly wish it updated daily. Ellen and Christian are utterly charming. I listen to each episode and then put them on rotation as my falling asleep podcast. I am giddy when a new one drops. Thank you for bringing hobby-zoology to us all!
Beckyhalpern ¡ Jul 2024
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Just the Zoo of Us, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
