author | Talking Animals

Kevin Nealon, veteran comedian, animal advocate, YouTube hiker

Duncan — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:12:04 +0000

Kevin Nealon–the veteran comedian, longtime animal advocate, former “Saturday Night Live” star (amidst a long list of TV and film credits), and host of the YouTube series, “Hiking with Kevin”—explains why his animal advocacy and championing of certain animal welfare organizations has receded in recent years. He clarifies that his objection to the animal abuse […]

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Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, entomologist and author of “The Deadliest Series”

Duncan — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 16:02:42 +0000

Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice–an entomologist by training, and author whose books have tackled topics ranging from spiders to microbes—responds to my observation that her new set of books, “The Deadliest Series,” appears to represent a redoubling of her commitment to writing for young readers. It felt worth exploring, in part because Spicer Rice holds a […]

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Peter Singer, philosopher, professor, author: “Consider The Turkey”

Duncan — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 05:00:41 +0000

Peter Singer–the philosopher, professor emeritus of bioethics at Princeton University, and author (including his landmark 1975 work, “Animal Liberation” and the just-published “Consider The Turkey”—explains that his slate of pursuits post-retirement from Princeton includes a stint as visiting professor at the National University of Singapore. He goes on to clarify that while, yes, he did […]

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Dr. Gregory Berns, neuroscientist, professor, author of “Cowpuppy”

Duncan — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 04:00:27 +0000

Dr. Gregory Berns—author, neuroscientist, professor of psychology at Emory University (and an M.D.)—addresses the change he was seeking when he and his wife decided to buy a farm outside of Atlanta, a saga that’s among the experiences chronicled in Berns’ new book, “Cowpuppy: An Unexpected Friendship and A Scientist’s Journey into The Secret World of […]

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Dr. Mikel Delgado, author of “Play With Your Cat! The Essential Guide to Interactive Play for a Happier, Healthier Feline”

Duncan — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 04:00:23 +0000

Dr. Mikel Delgado–a certified cat behavior consultant and author, most recently, of “Play With Your Cat! The Essential Guide to Interactive Play for a Happier, Healthier Feline”—traces the path that preceded her status as a cat expert with a PhD, including dropping out of school and playing bass in punk bands, sharing stages with such […]

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Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice, author of “Your Pets’ Secret Lives: The Truth Behind Your Pets’ Wildest Behaviors”

Duncan — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 04:00:50 +0000

Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice–an entomologist by training who’s appeared on the show multiple times, discussing ants, spiders, homing pigeons, and microbes (often tied to a book she’s written on the topic)—acknowledges that writing for young readers has officially become a trend for her, primarily discussing her second, just-published book in this series, while also briefly […]

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Rhonda Eldridge, Executive Director of The Community Pet Project

Duncan — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 04:00:04 +0000

Rhonda Eldridge–Executive Director of The Community Pet Project, which provides pet food and several other resources to homeless and at-risk communities throughout Hillsborough County—discusses the organization’s origin story, beginning in 2017 as an offshoot of a local rescue, before peeling off as a separate entity with 501c3 nonprofit status. The Community Pet Project was launched […]

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Mark E. Hauber, ornithologist & author of “Bird Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Avian Lives”

Duncan — Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:00:12 +0000

Mark E. Hauber—professor, ornithologist, and author of “Bird Day: A Story of 24 Hours and 24 Avian Lives”—recalls becoming seriously interested in birds at age four or five. This was in his native Hungary, where, as that little boy, he dragged his mother to view the Spring Migration. His passion for birds was precocious and […]

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Tom Mustill, author of “How To Speak Whale: A Voyage into the Future of Animal Communication”

Duncan — Wed, 07 Dec 2022 05:00:48 +0000

Tom Mustill, who’s a biologist, filmmaker, and author, discusses how he’s forever primarily identified by a 2015 incident: while kayaking with a friend, a humpback whale breached, landing on the pair.

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Mark Reinfeld, vegan chef, author & educator

Duncan — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 04:00:36 +0000

Mark Reinfeld— the award-winning vegan chef and author of numerous books, including “Healing The Vegan Way: Plant-Based Eating for Optimal Health and Wellness”—returns to the show, this time offering more early biographical information than we’ve discussed in past conversations. This includes growing up in Stony Brook, Long Island, where he and his family ate a […]

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Thomas French, Journalist-Author

Duncan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:14:03 +0000

Thomas French–a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, formerly with The St. Petersburg Times, and the author, most recently, of “Zoo Story: Life In The Garden Of Captives”–discusses when and how, in the course of writing articles about Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo for the newspaper, he decided he had the makings of a book. He recounts […]

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Alan Rabinowitz, Zoologist-Conservationist-Author

Duncan — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:22:01 +0000

Alan Rabinowitz–the world-renowned zoologist, conservationist and field biologist, whose latest book, “Life In The Valley Of Death: The Fight To Save Tigers In A Land Of Guns, Gold And Greed” will be issued in paperback Sept. 7– discusses his dim view of zoos (lifelong, even as The Bronx Zoo played a pivotal, somewhat soothing role […]

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Gordon Grice–journalist and author

Duncan — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:00:24 +0000

Gordon Grice–the journalist whose work has appeared in The New Yorker and author, most recently, of “Deadly Kingdom: The Book Of Dangerous Animals”–discusses how a boyhood fascination with snakes and spiders (influenced at least partly by where he was living) didn’t recede as he reached adulthood but rather grew stronger (ditto); explains how the observation […]

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Melanie Joy–professor and author

Duncan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:00:11 +0000

Melanie Joy–a professor who teaches psychology and sociology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston and author, most recently of “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism”—reprises the hypothetical dinner scene that opens her new book, outlines some of the fundamental tenets of “Carnism” (in many respects, the opposite of […]

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Darlene Arden–award-winning journalist and author

libby — Mon, 27 Sep 2004 13:00:52 +0000

Darlene Arden–award-winning journalist and author, most recently of “Unbelievably Good Deals And Great Adventures That You Absolutely Can’t Get Unless You’re A DOG”–discusses the wide-ranging resources and tips provided in the new book, the fun she had researching and compiling that material, and an assortment of other topics, including canine freestyle (that’s right: doggie dancing!) […]

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