Browse Show Archives

10/04/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell explore the topic of hoarding and talk about why some do it. They also welcome a genetics professor to talk about D-N-A and the ultimate forensic record of evolution.	Listen

09/27/2008: On Calling All Pets, join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell to discover whether animals lose their memory with age like humans do. We also take a moment to remember Alex, the special African Grey Parrot who caused the world to reconsider the definition of "bird brain".	Listen

09/20/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out if your dog is happy... or frightened... just by observing the way it wags its tail. Also, two guests talk about a flock of wild parrots that call San Francisco home.	Listen

09/13/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell put the debate about horses and colorblindness to rest. Also, your calls, and a guest who talks about a special bison who helped one couple connect with the past.	Listen

09/06/2008: On Calling All Pets, the ethics of zoos, and whether animals suffer in confinement. Also, a conversation with an equine (EE-quine) veterinarian who had a hand in saving thousands of wild horses from a New Mexico missile range.	Listen

08/30/2008: On Calling All Pets, learn whether rats have the ability to think... about thinking. Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they take your calls and welcome a guest to talk about her work with the wild elephant herds of Africa. Guest: Caitlin O'Connell, "The Elephant's Secret Sense".	Listen

08/23/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out why being called a "Bird Brain" isn't such a bad thing. Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they explore the topic of intelligence in ravens. Plus, they welcome a guest to talk about the seductive mating rituals of animals in the high seas. Guest: Eugene Kaplan, "Sensuous Seas."	Listen

08/16/2008: On Calling All Pets, do humans have the ability to use echo-location, and what can be learned if they do? Also, a conversation with an author who tells us how her horse's troubled past helped her cope with her own. Guest: Susan Richards, author, "Chosen By A Horse."	Listen

08/09/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out why the flicker of a firefly isn't always such a pretty thing. Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they explore that topic, take your calls, and welcome a guest to talk about the best ways to raise puppies and kids together. Guest: Pia Silvani, "Raising Puppies and Kids Together."	Listen

08/02/2008: On Calling All Pets, discover what wild cats tell us about how social our house cats really are. Join Larry Meiller and Patricia McConnell as they explore that topic, take your calls, and welcome a veterinarian to talk about the best ways to stay fit with Fido. Guest: Dr. Marty Becker, "Fitness Unleashed!"	Listen

07/26/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out why it's important to keep Nemo in the fish tank. And learn how author Temple Grandin uses the mysteries of autism to decode animal behavior. Guest: Temple Grandin, "Animals In Translation".	Listen

07/19/2008: On Calling All Pets, new research suggests some animals know how to self-medicate. And this week's guest helps us explore the detailed history of pets in America... from the first caged birds brought by early settlers, to today's beloved cats and dogs.	Listen

07/12/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out why there's more than meets the eye when it comes to feather colors on birds. Plus, Larry and Tricia welcome an author to talk about the first panda to come to the U.S., and the unlikely woman who brought it here.	Listen

07/05/2008: From “Lassie” to “Luke,” and “Baby” to “Brute...” After seven, on Calling All Pets, learn what it takes to name a dog. Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they discuss that topic, and also welcome an author whose biography of honey would make Winnie The Pooh’s mouth water.	Listen

06/28/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out why certain primates don't "monkey around" when it comes to keeping food from competitors. And discover the Singing Life Of Birds with author Donald Kroodsma.	Listen

06/21/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out why certain dogs aren't being adopted from animal shelters, and what you can do to help. Patricia McConnell and Larry Meiller take your calls and talk to an author whose runt of a piglet turned out to be a 700-pound local celebrity.	Listen

06/14/2008: After seven, on Calling All Pets, find out why primates are the masters of imitation. And join Larry Meiller and Patricia McConnell as they talk with an author about the blessings of toads.	Listen

06/07/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and Patricia McConnell take you on a "Suburban Safari" to learn about all the exciting wildlife in your own back yard. Also, learn what makes male and female primates play differently from one another.	Listen

05/31/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out why male fish are some of the most caring daddies in the Animal Kingdom. Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they discuss that topic and welcome a guest to talk about the lessons he learned from his free-thinking dog named Merle.	Listen

05/24/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell take a look at the ethics of horse racing in light of the tragic death of Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby. Also, a psychotherapist talks about the breakthroughs he's had with his patients... thanks to animals. Guest: Aubrey Fine, "Afternoons with Puppy"	Listen

05/17/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and Patricia McConnell take another look at pet punishment and examine why "negative punishment" can be a positive thing. Also, find out which tiny creatures may have contributed to the demise of the mighty dinosaur. Guest: George Poinar, "What Bugged the Dinosaurs?"	Listen

05/10/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and Patricia McConnell examine the negatives of "positive punishment" and also welcome a guest to tell us about her work as a wildlife rehabilitator. Guest: Marge Gibson, Raptor Education Group, Antigo, WI.	Listen

05/03/2008: On Calling All Pets, join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they introduce you to a mystery guest that probably lives in your backyard... but you don't know about it. They'll also welcome a leading scientist to talk about the emotional lives of animals and why they matter. Guest: Marc Bekoff, "The Emotional Lives of Animals"	Listen

04/26/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell discuss whether wolf-dog hybrids make good pets for our home. author John Grogan joins the conversation about life after his bestselling, "Marley and Me." Plus, another poem from cowboy poet Baxter Black. Guest: John Grogan, "Marley and Me"	Listen

04/19/2008: Would you "rent a pet"? On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell talk about new businesses cropping up that rent pets out by the hour. Also, find out why several amphibians are facing extinction. Plus, another story from cowboy poet Baxter Black. Guest: Kevin Zippel, Program Director of Amphibian Ark.	Listen

04/12/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell discuss why re-homing some pets may be the kindest thing you can do. And, find out what Shamu (shah-MOO) can teach you about life, love, and marriage. Plus, a special poem by cowboy poet Baxter Black. Guest: Amy Sutherland, "What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage".	Listen

04/05/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out whether pet psychics can really tell us what our animals are thinking. Plus, celebrate the hilarity of life with dogs with the co-founder of The Bark magazine. Guest: Cameron Woo, editor, "HOWL: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit"	Listen

03/29/2008: On Calling All Pets, join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they examine whether dogs have the complex ability to imitate other dogs. They'll also welcome two guests to celebrate the songs of insects.	Listen

03/22/2008: On Calling All Pets, join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell to learn why prairie dogs have a vocabulary all their own. Also, a children's author shares her own how-to guide for introducing kids to dogs. Guest: Stephanie Calmenson, "May I Pet Your Dog?"	Listen

03/15/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out if a breed's win at the Westminster Dog Show means increased popularity among dog owners. Also, discover whether your dog has what it takes to become a "pet detective". Guest: Kat Albrecht, "Dog Detectives"	Listen

03/08/2008: On Calling All Pets, join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they discuss the social bonds within groups of giraffes and why they matter. And they'll also welcome a guest to talk about his quest to find rare and interesting wildlife on all seven continents.	Listen

03/01/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out what dominance really is and whether it's necessary for training your dog. Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they also take a look at the animals that helped biology evolve. Guest: Jim Endersby, "A Guinea Pig's History of Biology"	Listen

02/23/2008: On Calling All Pets, learn whether rats have the ability to think... about thinking. Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they take your calls and welcome a guest to talk about her work with the wild elephant herds of Africa. Guest: Caitlin O'Connell, "The Elephant's Secret Sense".	Listen

02/16/2008: (WISCONSIN) Tricks like "high-five" and "sit pretty" aren't just for fido anymore. On Calling All Pets, find out how to teach your cat tricks usually reserved for dogs. (OTHER LOCATIONS & ONLINE) Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they explore the topic of intelligence in ravens. Plus, they welcome a guest to talk about the seductive mating rituals of animals in the high seas.	Listen

02/09/2008: (WISCONSIN ONLY): On Calling All Pets, what goes around comes around. Find out why generosity pays off... not just for humans, but for rats too! (OTHER LOCATIONS & ONLINE): On Calling All Pets, the ethics of zoos, and whether animals suffer in confinement. Also, a conversation with an equine veterinarian who had a hand in saving thousands of wild horses from a New Mexico missile range.	Listen

02/02/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell put the debate about horses and colorblindness to rest. Also, your calls, and a guest who talks about a special bison who helped one couple connect with the past.	Listen

01/26/2008: On Calling All Pets, find out if your dog is happy, or frightened simply by observing the way it wags its tail. Also, two guests talk about a flock of wild parrots that call San Francisco home. Guests: Mark Bittner and Judy Irving, "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill"	Listen

01/19/2008: On Calling All Pets, from Pit Bulls to Newfoundlands, Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell look at some of the most controversial dog breeds throughout history. Also, why not every dog can be a "one-in-a-million" dog. Guest: Karen Delise (duh-LEESE), "The Pit Bull Placebo"	Listen

01/12/2008: On Calling All Pets, join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell to discover whether animals lose their memory with age like humans do. We also take a moment to remember Alex, the special African Grey Parrot who caused the world to reconsider the definition of "bird brain". Guest: Irene Pepperberg.	Listen

01/05/2008: On Calling All Pets, Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell explore the topic of hoarding and talk about why some do it. They also welcome a genetics professor to talk about D-N-A and the ultimate forensic record of evolution. Guest: Sean Carroll, "Making of the Fittest"	Listen

12/29/2007: On Calling All Pets, hear all about Flora, the first komodo (koh-MOH-doe) dragon known to lay eggs without having a mate. Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they welcome a wildlife biologist who followed a herd of caribou on its arctic migration. Guest: Karsten Heuer, "Being Caribou".	Listen

12/22/2007: On Calling All Pets, find out if dogs recognize other dogs by simply looking at photographs, and learn about a 19th Century court case that put the whale on trial and challenged the order of nature. Guest: Graham Burnett, "Trying Leviathan"	Listen

12/15/2007: On Calling All Pets, discover how certain animals repel insects the natural way. And from frozen toes, to Happy Feet, find out if Hollywood is telling the truth about penguins. Guest: Lloyd Spencer Davis, "Looking For Darwin".	Listen

12/08/2007: After seven, on Calling All Pets, Patricia McConnell tells us how to keep our dogs busy... and happy... when the weather outside is frightful. Also, a veterinarian joins in to tell us how to raise a healthy cat on a healthy diet. Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Hodjkins, "Your Cat".	Listen

12/01/2007: On Calling All Pets, hear about Luna, the killer whale who was more interested in befriending humans than other whales. And be sure to catch the discussion with a leading primatologist about the origins of morality. Guest: Frans de Waal, "Primates and Philosophers"	Listen

11/24/2007: On Calling All Pets, find out why wild elephants are causing problems in parts of Africa and Asia. Plus, a conversation with a biologist about her pioneering work in the world's rainforest treetops. Guest: Meg Lowman (LAU-mehn), "It's A Jungle Up There".	Listen

11/17/2007: On Calling All Pets, find out what to look for in a good animal rescue shelter. Join Larry Meiller and zoologist Patricia McConnell as they take your calls and welcome a guest to talk about what birding was like in the days before binoculars and field guides. Guest: Scott Weidensaul (WIDE-uhn-saul), "Of A Feather".	Listen

11/10/2007: What can animal hibernation do for you? Explore that topic, after seven, on Calling All Pets. Also, learn more about an animal that doesn't hibernate: The wolf. Guest: Scott Ian Barry, "Wolf Empire".	Listen

11/03/2007: There's a new kind of assistance dog in town, and it's here to help your child learn to read. After seven, on Calling All Pets, find out more about the new "literacy dog" program, and enjoy a conversation with a documentary filmmaker about the forgotten heroes of the Civil War, The Horses of Gettysburg. Guest: Mark Bussler, "The Horses of Gettysburg".	Listen

10/27/2007: On Calling All Pets, Patricia and Larry look at the feral cat population and discuss some solutions for your community. Plus, a guest discusses how authors like Emily Dickson were inspired by their dogs. Guest: Maureen Adams, "Shaggy Muses".	Listen

10/20/2007: (WISCONSIN ONLY): On the next Calling All Pets, discover why positive reinforcement gets positive results for pets... and pledge drives. (ALL OTHER STATIONS): On the next Calling All Pets, we’ll find out what pre-historic fossils tell us about dinosaur behavior. Tune in for that topic and a conversation with an author and behavioral ecologist about what families in the animal kingdom tell us about our own.	Listen


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