Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA

This episode continues on "The Behaviors of..." series which dives into the people side of the animal care field. This episode, is a live panel recording from the 2026 ABMA-IAATE Joint Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States with live submitted questions from conference attendees. The panelists discuss “The Behaviors of Partnering for Success” and give advice for both formal leadership and frontline staff.  Among other topics asked by the live audience, the panelists discuss what it means to be a good teammate, setting up systems for success, how to “disagree well”, and how leadership and staff can partner together for success. The panelist are Chris Jenkins (Virginia Zoo in Norfolk), Cinnamon Eubanks (Saint Louis Zoo - Forest Park Campus), Kit Lacy (Cascades Raptor Center) and Erin Katzner (World Parrot Trust).  For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ 
6:20 What does “Partnering for Success” look like in the animal care field? 

10:55 What is the difference between avian and mammalian trainers? 

16:25 From a leadership perspective, what does it look like to partner for success with your staff? 

25:05 Advice for staff to have a discussion about partnering with their leadership on a project or initiative

33:30 Advice for when there is resistance to change because what happens now “works” 

43:00 Advice for disagreeing well 

51:35 Setting up a departmental system for success 

1:00:10 Advice for leaders to define roles and staff to work within those roles 

1:09:40 Advice when collaboration with a peer isn’t reciprocated 

1:16:10 The behaviors of a good teammate 

1:21:55 What changes or advancements are the panelists most excited for and how can leadership and staff work together to achieve that goal

To commemorate the 75th episode of the podcast, a special guest panel discuss current progressive practices in enrichment and the future of innovative enrichment strategies. The panel consists of Nicki Boyd (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance), Rick Hester (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo & BehaviorWorks), and Elly Neumann (Jerusalem Zoo).  The discussion starts with looking to nature to inform enrichment and using that knowledge to create environments that are responsive to the animals’ experience.  Next, the panel discusses strategies for setting up an enrichment program for success.  The panel also answers listeners questions about aggression and the evolution of audio enrichment. The episode ends with looking towards the future with the role of animal personality in enrichment and innovative ways to implement a free operant strategy for enrichment.  Instead of a "Training Tale" to end the episode, each panelist gives their best advice for taking your enrichment to new heights. For questions or suggestions about the podcast or to ask any of the panelists a question email ⁠[email protected]⁠
For more information on the ABMA’s virtual conference visit this link: ⁠⁠https://www.theabma.org/virtual-conference⁠
4:35 Introduction to panelists 

8:00 The focus on the animals’ experience and creating a new system 

17:10 Updating the animals’ environment 

24:10 How to look to nature to inform enrichment 

26:40 How can we set up keepers for success when it comes to planning, implementing, and tracking enrichment 

43:40 If an animal is displaying aggressive behaviors towards enrichment, can that impact the animal’s behavior outside of interactions with enrichment? 

51:15  The role individual animal personality plays in enrichment 

59:40 Free Operant Enrichment  

1:07:45 The evolution of “audio” enrichment

This episode continues on "The Behaviors of..." series which dives into the people side of the animal care field. This episode, is a live panel recording from the 2025 ABMA Virtual Conference with live submitted questions from conference attendees. The panelists include leaders at all levels of animal care from keepers to curators to executive directors which give a holistic view and advice on what leadership can look like at any level in the animal care field. The panelist are Chris Jenkins, Clint Lusardi, Darren Minier, Julie Grove, Missy Lamar, Sandy Jabas, Shea Eaves, Stephanie Joe, Torianna Green, and Trelle Dandridge. Instead of the traditional "Training Tales", to end the episode the panelist provide their "Leadership Resource List" which can be found at the end of this episode's description. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠
4:40 Introductions to the panelists and what does leadership mean to you? 

22:45 Approaching management to encourage someone to take on a responsibility so that other coworkers feel motivated, seen, and heard 

33:30 As a leader, when growing and supporting a newer leader that struggles with communication and tone, how do you best allow them to practice those skills without damaging relationships 

52:20 What are the challenges of leading your peers and how do you overcome those challenges? 

59:15 What advice do you have for a leader to hold their team accountable so that they are raising the team up to a higher standard instead of brining the higher achievers down to a lower standard? 

1:04:20 What does it look like when a leader creates “a safe environment”? 

1:09:25 What advice do you have for those who are leading amongst their peers? 

1:26:20 How do you work around the thought of “You’re not my boss” when you are trying to be a leader at any level 

1:33:10 For those who do not have the authority or responsibility of changing disciplinary action plans for a larger organization, what are some small changes we can make in our teams in order to model “Just Culture” 

1:40:00 “Leadership Resource List” 

“Leading Without Authority” by Keith Ferrazi 

“It’s Your Ship” by Captain Michael Abrashoff 

“Crucial Conversations” 

“Just Culture” 

“Radical Candor” by Kim Scott

This is a very special episode where we highlight ABMA’s 2025 Premier Sponsor: Pets for Vets with the organization’s founder and executive director Clarissa Black.  Clarissa starts by discussing how the organization was formed, what the organization does, and their very important mission.  She then gives information on how trainers can get involved with the organization and the process for applying for a pet while sharing some incredible and life-changing success stories.  Clarissa finishes the conversation by giving advice and learning into the world of therapy pet training and examples of some of the incredible training that is accomplished.  Stay tuned in for Clarissa’s "Training Tale" of teaching her puppy appropriate social interactions using a stuffed panda bear. If you would like to see a picture of Bear, the dog who inspired Clarissa to develop Pets For Vets, check out ABMA's social media channels! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠.  To contact Clarissa email [email protected] and to learn more about Pets for Vets and how you can get involved visit https://petsforvets.com/
3:10 Intro to Clarissa Black 

6:30 Overview and mission of Pets for Vets 

10:20 How to get involved as a trainer 

11:30 Success Stories 

16:00 The process of choosing the specific pet for each veteran 

18:50 How to apply for a pet 

20:10 How to start your pet training journey 

25:20 Lessons learned from zoological training that apply to pet training 

30:35 Difference in training with animals that share our (home) environment 

32:34 Nightmare training and other examples of training with therapy pets 

38:55 Reciprocal expression and perception of behavior 

45:05 Common challenges when training therapy dogs and other pets 

51:00 “Training Tales”

This episode Ryan Cartlidge, Animal Training Academy, discusses how to get “unstuck” in training. Ryan starts the episode by operationalizing what getting “stuck” in training may look like and the process of thinking “How do I get unstuck?”  Ryan breaks down this process into three steps 1. Building a tool kit of knowledge 2. Having the Courage to Act and 3. Having the Systems for Learning in place. Throughout the entire episode Ryan details multiple tactics and learnings that can assist in getting unstuck such as understanding reinforcement systems, videoing your training sessions, utilizing flowcharts, and so much more!   Stay tuned in for Ryan’s very unique "Training Tale" in which he was the learner. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠[email protected]⁠ and to contact Ryan and to learn more about Animal Training Academy connect with the organization in any way below: 
Email >>> 
Website >>> www.atamember.com
Instagram >>> https://www.instagram.com/animal_training_academy/?hl=en
Facebook >>> https://www.facebook.com/animaltrainingacademy/
If interested follow the link to a free month of ATA.  Sign up for 30 free days of ATA membership and then after that time period, you can roll into a full membership. >>> https://atamember.com/thanks-for-subscribing/
6:20 Introduction to Ryan Cartlidge 

12:35 Information about Animal Training Academy 

16:00 What does it mean when we feel “stuck” in training 

25:10 Starting the process of thinking “How do I get unstuck”?

32:50 Building a tool kit of knowledge and skills

1:00:40 Having the courage to act

1:15:10 Having the systems for learning in place 

1:27:45 “Training Tale”