The Zooquarium Podcast
The Zooquarium Podcast

The Zooquarium Podcast

Mike Bennett Studios

Overview
Episodes

Details

The Zooquarium Podcast is a deep dive into all of the questions YOU want answered about the animals and habitats of the land, sea, and air. On each episode, artist Mike Bennett and biologist Chanel Hason use their background as educators to answer YOUR questions and invite guests from the wildlife and creative worlds to explore the convergence of science and art together. The Zooquarium Podcast explores the imagucational world of animals and ecosystems in a way that’s engaging and accessible to kids of all ages. Want more of The Zooquarium Podcast? BONUS content for each episode is posted every other Tuesday at thezooquarium.com/podcast and youtube.com/@mikebennettstudios

Recent Episodes

BONUS: Animating Animals - More With Stop Motion Animator, Adam Taylor
MAY 5, 2026
BONUS: Animating Animals - More With Stop Motion Animator, Adam Taylor
This bonus episode features more of Mike and Chanel’s conversation with Adam Taylor all about his experience as an animator! They continue their conversation about chickens, but also discuss octopuses, monkeys, and bunnies.Adam Taylor is a stop-motion animator from the Pacific Northwest who has animated lots of animals in quite a few movies, including Wendell and Wild (Octopus), Guillermo del Torro's Pinocchio (monkey, and cricket), Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget(Chickens!, and rats), Wildwood (rabbits, coyotes, and an owl), and Shaun the Sheep: The Beats of Mossy Bottom (sheep, a dog, and a raven!)Be sure to visit thezooquarium.com/podcast to download quizzes, activity sheets, and bonus materials, upload YOUR art, and submit YOUR animal questions!WATCH this episode on YouTube and Spotify!Follow Adam on Instagram: @adamtaylor_animatorView Adam's work on VimeoLearn about the Portland AquariumShop the Mike Bennett Studios storeFollow us on Instagram: @thezooquariumFollow Mike on Instagram: @mikebennettartFollow Mike on TikTok: @mikebennettartSubscribe to the Mike Bennett Studios YouTube ChannelFollow Chanel on Instagram: @pschanelLearn about The Elakha Alliance: elakhaalliance.orgThe Zooquarium releases episodes about different animals every other Tuesday with bonus content for each episode the following week. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you’re informed when new episodes come out! Video versions are available on YouTube, Spotify, and thezooquarium.com/podcastCreditsHosted by: Mike Bennett & Chanel HasonGuest: Adam TaylorProduced & Edited by: Jon RichardsonMusic by: Gretchen Lohse & Thomas Hughes of Carol Cleveland SingsIntro Animation by: Silas Bell & Kyle Bell of Castle AnimationArtwork by: FuzzzbrainSpecial thanks toMaggie & Maggie's family, Adam Taylor, Michele Kraus Bennett, Cayley Pater, The Elakha Alliance, Teddy Albertson, chickens in general
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8 MIN
Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?
APR 28, 2026
Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg?
Maggie asks: Which Came First, the Chicken or the Egg? Ah yes, the age old question! Hosts Mike Bennett and Chanel Hason can certainly handle that one, along with a special guest - Adam Taylor, a stop motion animator who worked on Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget!Adam Taylor is a stop-motion animator from the Pacific Northwest who has animated lots of animals in quite a few movies, including Wendell and Wild (Octopus), Guillermo del Torro's Pinocchio (monkey, and cricket), Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget(Chickens!, and rats), Wildwood (rabbits, coyotes, and an owl), and Shaun the Sheep: The Beats of Mossy Bottom (sheep, a dog, and a raven!)Be sure to visit thezooquarium.com/podcast to download quizzes, activity sheets, and bonus materials, upload YOUR art, and submit YOUR animal questions!WATCH this episode on YouTube and Spotify!Follow Adam on Instagram: @adamtaylor_animatorView Adam's work on VimeoLearn about the Portland AquariumShop the Mike Bennett Studios storeFollow us on Instagram: @thezooquariumFollow Mike on Instagram: @mikebennettartFollow Mike on TikTok: @mikebennettartSubscribe to the Mike Bennett Studios YouTube ChannelFollow Chanel on Instagram: @pschanelLearn about The Elakha Alliance: elakhaalliance.orgThe Zooquarium releases episodes about different animals every other Tuesday with bonus content for each episode the following week. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you’re informed when new episodes come out! Video versions are available on YouTube, Spotify, and thezooquarium.com/podcastCreditsHosted by: Mike Bennett & Chanel HasonGuest: Adam TaylorProduced & Edited by: Jon RichardsonMusic by: Gretchen Lohse & Thomas Hughes of Carol Cleveland SingsIntro Animation by: Silas Bell & Kyle Bell of Castle AnimationArtwork by: FuzzzbrainSpecial thanks toMaggie & Maggie's family, Adam Taylor, Michele Kraus Bennett, Cayley Pater, The Elakha Alliance, Teddy Albertson, chickens in general
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11 MIN
BONUS: In Living Color - The Wild World of Chameleons with Jenna Lamping
APR 21, 2026
BONUS: In Living Color - The Wild World of Chameleons with Jenna Lamping
This bonus episode features more of Mike and Chanel’s conversation with Jenna Lamping all about CHAMELEONS! They continue their conversation about these fascinating reptiles, including their unique eyes and hands. PLUS, they talk about other animals that can change color.Visit https://www.thezooquarium.com/podcast to download activity sheets and bonus materials, upload YOUR art, and submit YOUR animal questions!Visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden's website!Listen to the Cincinnati Zoo Tales podcastLearn about the Portland AquariumShop the Mike Bennett Studios storeFollow us on Instagram: @thezooquariumFollow Mike on Instagram: @mikebennettartFollow Mike on TikTok: @mikebennettartSubscribe to the Mike Bennett Studios YouTube ChannelFollow Chanel on Instagram: @pschanelLearn about The Elakha Alliance: elakhaalliance.orgThe Zooquarium releases episodes about different animals every other Tuesday with bonus content for each episode the following week. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or here on YouTube so you’re informed when new episodes come out! Video versions are available here on YouTube, Spotify, and https://www.thezooquarium.com/podcastCreditsHosted by: Mike Bennett & Chanel HasonGuest: Jenna LampingProduced & Edited by: Jon RichardsonMusic by: Gretchen Lohse & Thomas Hughes of Carol Cleveland SingsIntro Animation by: Silas Bell & Kyle Bell of Castle AnimationArtwork by: FuzzzbrainSpecial thanks toBianca & Bianca's family, Jenna Lamping, Michele Kraus Bennett, Cayley Pater, The Elakha Alliance, Teddy Albertson, chameleons in general
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6 MIN
How Can Chameleons Change Color?
APR 14, 2026
How Can Chameleons Change Color?
Bianca asks: How Can Chameleons Change Color? What an amazing question! It's pretty well known that they can change color, but how they do it is definitely a mystery. Luckily hosts Mike and Chanel know a lizard expert, Lenna Lamping from the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, who can help explain this unique characteristic.Jenna has been a Reptile Keeper at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden since 2018. Jenna's passion/goal in life is to encourage people to understand and appreciate all wildlife, especially those that are greatly misunderstood - just like her favorite, the American Alligator. Reptiles have such a special and important part to play in our ecosystem. Jenna loves getting outside, observing these animals in their natural environments, and teaching others why they are to be revered instead of feared.Be sure to visit thezooquarium.com/podcast to download quizzes, activity sheets, and bonus materials, upload YOUR art, and submit YOUR animal questions!WATCH this episode on YouTube and Spotify!Visit the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden's website!Listen to the Cincinnati Zoo Tales podcastLearn about the Portland AquariumShop the Mike Bennett Studios storeFollow us on Instagram: @thezooquariumFollow Mike on Instagram: @mikebennettartFollow Mike on TikTok: @mikebennettartSubscribe to the Mike Bennett Studios YouTube ChannelFollow Chanel on Instagram: @pschanelLearn about The Elakha Alliance: elakhaalliance.orgThe Zooquarium releases episodes about different animals every other Tuesday with bonus content for each episode the following week. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you’re informed when new episodes come out! Video versions are available on YouTube, Spotify, and thezooquarium.com/podcastCreditsHosted by: Mike Bennett & Chanel HasonGuest: Jenna LampingProduced & Edited by: Jon RichardsonMusic by: Gretchen Lohse & Thomas Hughes of Carol Cleveland SingsIntro Animation by: Silas Bell & Kyle Bell of Castle AnimationArtwork by: FuzzzbrainSpecial thanks toBianca & Bianca's family, Jenna Lamping, Michele Kraus Bennett, Cayley Pater, The Elakha Alliance, Teddy Albertson, chameleons in general
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10 MIN
BONUS: Act Like an Animal - More with actor Derrick Baskin from Disney's The Little Mermaid on Broadway
APR 7, 2026
BONUS: Act Like an Animal - More with actor Derrick Baskin from Disney's The Little Mermaid on Broadway
This bonus episode features more of Mike and Chanel’s conversation with Derrick Baskin all about EELS! They continue their conversation about eels, the experience of performing on stage for kids, and embodying all different types of animals. PLUS, Chanel and Mike share their own experiences acting on stage for a live audience.Visit thezooquarium.com/podcast to download activity sheets and bonus materials, upload YOUR art, and submit YOUR animal questions!Visit Derrick's websiteFollow Derrick on Instagram: @derrick.baskinLearn about the Portland AquariumShop the Mike Bennett Studios storeFollow us on Instagram: @thezooquariumFollow Mike on Instagram: @mikebennettartFollow Mike on TikTok: @mikebennettartSubscribe to the Mike Bennett Studios YouTube ChannelFollow Chanel on Instagram: @pschanelLearn about The Elakha Alliance: elakhaalliance.orgThe Zooquarium releases episodes about different animals every other Tuesday with bonus content for each episode the following week. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube so you’re informed when new episodes come out! Video versions are available here on YouTube, Spotify, and thezooquarium.com/podcastCreditsHosted by: Mike Bennett & Chanel HasonGuest: Derrick BaskinProduced & Edited by: Jon RichardsonMusic by: Gretchen Lohse & Thomas Hughes of Carol Cleveland SingsIntro Animation by: Silas Bell & Kyle Bell of Castle AnimationArtwork by: FuzzzbrainSpecial thanks toAgatha & Agatha's family, Derrick Baskin, Tyler Maynard (Flotsam), Michele Kraus Bennett, Cayley Pater, The Elakha Alliance, Teddy Albertson, eels in general.
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17 MIN