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After more than 150 episodes of Snake Talk, Dr. Chris Jenkins takes a seat on the other side of the microphone for one final conversation. In this special farewell episode, Tracy Karplus, Director of Communication at The Orianne Society and longtime producer of the Snake Talk Podcast, asks the questions as Chris reflects on the journey that shaped his career and lifelong passion for reptile and amphibian conservation. From a childhood fascination with snakes to his education, early field experiences, and the path that led him to co-found The Orianne Society, Chris shares the stories behind a life dedicated to conservation. Whether you've been listening since the beginning or are discovering Snake Talk for the first time, this episode offers a fitting conclusion to Chris's remarkable journey, and a reminder of the message that has closed every episode: "Snakes are animals too, and it's a privilege to see one in the wild." Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with legendary herpetologist Romulus Whitaker to explore a life that has been anything but ordinary. Raised in the United States, educated in India, and mentored by famed snake handler Bill Haast, Rom followed his passion for reptiles across continents and cultures before returning to India to help transform wildlife conservation in the country. Over the past five decades, Rom has founded and helped build some of India’s most influential conservation organizations, including a snake park, a crocodile conservation center, and a pioneering venom extraction program operated by members of a local Indigenous community. Along the way, he has handled countless snakes and crocodiles, survived remarkable adventures, and played a central role in changing how people view and conserve reptiles. Read Rom’s biography, and be sure to check out The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, The King Cobra Conservancy, and the Global Snakebite Initiative. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Romey Swanson spent his childhood bringing frogs and snakes home in his pockets. Years later, that fascination with wildlife led him on an ambitious quest across Texas: to find as many reptile and amphibian species as possible in a single “big year.” In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Romey, Executive Director of the Devils River Conservancy, to discuss his journey from wildlife-obsessed kid to conservation leader. Inspired by the birding world’s legendary “big year” competitions, Romey set out to document all 230-plus species of reptiles and amphibians in Texas, taking him deep into deserts, swamps, rivers, and backroads across the state. By the end of the effort, he had documented an astonishing 177 species, more than 30 above the previous known record!  They also discuss the Devils River Conservancy and the effort to conserve hundreds of thousands of acres within one of Texas’s most ecologically important watersheds. Connect with Romey at the Devils River Conservancy. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

In this episode of the Snake Talk Podcast, discover what happens when a lifelong love of art collides with a fascination for snakes. Dr. Chris Jenkins sits down with Samantha Mancino, a tattoo artist who has built an international reputation for her stunning snake-inspired work. Sam shares stories from her unconventional journey into tattooing, from growing up immersed in art to road-tripping across the country while learning the craft along the way. She also reflects on how encountering her first wild rattlesnake left a lasting impression that continues to shape her art today. Connect with Sam at Kingsnake Tattoo. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

In this episode Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Sarah Baker, who is an Assistant Professor of Biological Science at McNeese State University. They discuss her time studying Massasauga Rattlesnakes specifically their metabolic rate and various aspects of their reproductive biology. They then talk about her transition to working with turtles and the population ecology work her lab is engaged in with Diamondback Terrapins and Box Turtles. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

What draws a researcher to the murky, hidden world of amphibians? In this episode of the Snake Talk Podcast, Dr. Chris Jenkins sits down with Maddie Zickgraf, a Master’s student at the University of Alabama and The Jones Center at Ichauway, to explore the winding path that led her into the world of amphibian ecology and the strange, secretive species that now define her work. Maddie’s passion for herps was sparked by childhood days exploring creeks in Pennsylvania. That curiosity grew into a focused academic pursuit, taking her across the country and into a range of field experiences from studying Pacific Giant Salamanders to Chiricahua Leopard Frogs. These experiences ultimately led her to a technician position at the Herpetology Lab at The Jones Center at Ichauway, where she worked with Gopher Tortoises and deepened her connection to southeastern ecosystems. It was during her time at Ichauway that Maddie became fascinated by the movement ecology of sirens and amphiumas, two large, cryptic amphibians that often coexist in ephemeral wetlands. While researching and trapping these elusive species, she began asking new questions about how they move through and persist in these dynamic environments, a curiosity that now shapes her Master’s research.  Connect with Maddie at The Jones Center at Ichauway. . Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

In this episode, Dr. Chris Jenkins sits down with Dr. Thilo Beck, a recent graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand. Originally from Germany, Thilo moved to South Africa in pursuit of greater snake diversity, and found himself studying one of the continent’s most fascinating species, the Cape Cobra. Thilo dives into his research on the thermal ecology of Cape Cobras, exploring how these snakes interact with their environment and regulate their body temperature. He also unpacks what his findings reveal about the future—how shifting climates could influence behavior, distribution, and survival for snakes in a rapidly changing world. Connect with Thilo at the Tswalu Foundation. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Sam Schenker from North Carolina. Sam is a high school student who has already done an incredible amount of work to advance her career as a herpetologist. Multiple herp focused ecotourism trips led to interests in research and photography. Sam started by taking a Master Herpetologist class and then began working with a conservation organization in Ecuador. She also works with former Snake Talk guest, Dr. Reynolds, at University of North Carolina Asheville. They discuss Sam’s journey and where she hopes the future will take her. Connect with Sam at the Khamai Foundation, or on her website, Scale Snaps. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Jade Samples and Eva Kerr, recent graduate students from the University of Georgia (UGA) who both study rare amphibians that breed in isolated wetlands. During their time at UGA, Jade and Eva collaborated on statewide surveys to better understand where these elusive species occur and what environmental factors shape their distribution. Jade shares insights from her work on Striped Newt reintroductions, exploring the factors that influence whether restored populations succeed. Eva dives into her research on Gopher Frogs, examining gene flow in different landscapes and describing the ecological model she developed to simulate how disturbance can influence their populations and long-term persistence. Connect with Jade and Eva at Dr. Maerz’s Herpetology Laboratory at UGA. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Cameron Ketchum and Ariana Coles, undergraduate researchers at the University of Northern Colorado, to discuss their undergraduate research on snake venom. The conversation focuses on efforts to characterize rattlesnake venom across the Americas and how this work can help make antivenom more efficient. Connect with Cameron and Ariana at the University of Northern Colorado. Looking to learn more about venom?  Check out Snake Talk 117 | Snake Venom with Dr. Stephen Mackessy. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

How do weather, habitat, and season influence a snake’s ability to fight disease? In this episode, Chris Jenkins sits down with Catherine Hanks, a graduate student in ecology at the University of Georgia, to talk about her path into graduate school, from studying tropical ecology in Costa Rica to finding the right lab as an undergraduate. They also dive into her thesis research on the immune capacity of Eastern Indigo Snakes and what it may reveal about how these iconic snakes respond to Snake Fungal Disease in the wild. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Shane Ngwenya, an aspiring herpetologist beginning graduate studies in South Africa. Shane reflects on his childhood as a herder, where encounters with snakes were once rooted in fear and conflict, and how a growing fascination with the natural world ultimately reshaped his perspective. That turning point came during a formative field course in Kruger National Park led by faculty including Bryan Maritz, a previous Snake Talk Podcast guest, whose mentorship helped inspire Shane’s path into herpetology. Shane discusses his honors research examining gecko communities across diverse habitat types and offers insight into the rich reptile and snake communities of Kruger. The episode also looks ahead to his upcoming graduate work, which will explore how elephant exclusion fences influence reptile habitat and community structure in protected landscapes. Connect with Shane at the University of the Western Cape. Looking to learn more? Check out Snake Talk 19 | Snakes of Africa with Dr. Bryan Maritz. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Samuel Kerwin, a PhD student at the University of Northern Colorado. Samuel shares how his fascination with snakes and venom evolved and led him to graduate school research. They dive into his master’s research on venom production in rattlesnakes, including how acidity plays a critical role in venom storage and safety, before exploring his PhD work on innovative snakebite treatments. This includes the potential development of an oral pill that could dramatically improve access to care and reduce morbidity from snakebite worldwide. Connect with Samuel at the University of Northern Colorado. Looking to learn more about venom?  Check out Snake Talk 117 | Snake Venom with Dr. Stephen Mackessy. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Stephanie Agnew, a graduate student at the University of Ottawa, to discuss her path into graduate school and the lessons she learned along the way, offering practical advice for others hoping to pursue a career in herpetology and wildlife research. The conversation also explores Stephanie’s research on gartersnake physiology and how animals respond along urban gradients (the gradual shift from natural and rural habitats to increasingly developed, human-dominated landscapes) revealing how urbanization can influence snake behavior and physiological responses. Connect with Stephanie at the University of Ottawa. Looking to learn more?  Check out Snake Talk 125 | Black Ratsnake Ecology with Dr. Gabriel Blouin-Demers. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Dr. Jenkins sits down with Kim Sash, Tall Timbers’ Biological Monitoring Coordinator, and Ashlynn Canode, 2024 Orianne Society grant recipient, to explore how Florida’s snake communities have changed over the past two decades. They revisit a large-scale snake inventory first conducted 20 years ago, now being repeated, to compare species presence, abundance, and ecological shifts.  The discussion highlights notable trends, including apparent declines in coachwhips and banded watersnakes, alongside dramatic increases in cottonmouth populations. They conclude by examining ongoing efforts to monitor Snake Fungal Disease and invasive parasites and what these emerging threats mean for future snake conservation. Learn more about the research, land stewardship, and fire ecology work happening at Tall Timbers by visiting their website. Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society. Shop Snake Talk merch. If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.