Episodes

  • Introducing The Zooquarium Podcast

    Introducing The Zooquarium Podcast
    Sep 8 2025

    Art and Science collide on The Zooquarium Podcast!

    Meet Mike Bennett - he's an artist and educator originally from Pennsylvania. After moving to Portland, OR, Mike began creating large-scale cartoon characters cut out of wood. Now, he's the brains behind a number of cartoon establishments, popular yard signs, and art partnerships all over the world.

    Meet Chanel - she's the marine biologist and wildlife expert behind the biomes at The Portland Aquarium and the Director of Outreach & Community Relations for the Elakha Alliance, an organization committed to bringing sea otters back to Oregon!

    The Zooquarium Podcast debuted in January 2026 and participation is always welcome! Kids of all ages are encouraged to submit their very own questions about animals and their habitats. Information on how to submit is at thezooquarium.com/podcast.

    It's art! It's educational! IT'S IMAGUCATIONAL!


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    2 mins
  • Why Do Sloths Poop on the Ground?

    Why Do Sloths Poop on the Ground?
    Jan 20 2026

    Fitz asks: WHY DO SLOTHS POOP ON THE GROUND? Hosts Mike Bennett and Chanel Hason answer Fitz’s question, share some other cool sloth facts, and discuss Mike’s iconic sloth Slow Down signs.

    Visit https://thezooquarium.com/podcast to download activity sheets and bonus materials, upload YOUR art, and submit YOUR animal questions!

    • Learn about the Portland Aquarium

    • Shop the Mike Bennett Studios store

    • Follow us on Instagram: @thezooquariumpodcast

    • Follow Mike on Instagram: @mikebennettart

    • Follow Mike on TikTok: @mikebennettart

    • Subscribe to the Mike Bennett Studios YouTube Channel

    • Follow Chanel on Instagram: @pschanel

    • Learn about The Elakha Alliance: elakhaalliance.org

    The Zooquarium Podcast releases every other Tuesday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you’re informed when new episodes come out! Video versions are available on YouTube and Spotify. Bonus videos for episodes are released one week after the relevant episode drops exclusively on YouTube or by visiting the show page at thezooquarium.com/podcast

    Credits

    • Hosted by: Mike Bennett & Chanel Hason

    • Produced & Edited by: Jon Richardson

    • Music by: Gretchen Lohse & Thomas Hughes of Carol Cleveland Sings

    • Intro Animation by: Silas Bell & Kyle Bell of Castle Animation

    • Artwork by Fuzzzbrain

    Special thanks to

    • Teddy Albertson

    • Fitz & Fitz’s family

    • Michele Kraus Bennett

    • Cayley Pater

    • The Elakha Alliance

    • Dr. Rebecca Cliffe

    • Sloths in general
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    11 mins
  • How Long Can Sea Otters Hold Their Breath?

    How Long Can Sea Otters Hold Their Breath?
    Feb 3 2026

    Calvin asks: How long can sea otters hold their breath? Great question, Calvin! Hosts Mike Bennett and Chanel Hason answer Calvin’s question, share some other cool sea otter facts, and invite guest Moddy Himmel to share their experience educating through puppetry!

    Visit thezooquarium.com/podcast to download Moddy’s Sea Otter Puppets (using Mike’s artwork), quizzes, activity sheets and bonus materials, upload YOUR art, and submit YOUR animal questions!

    1. WATCH this episode on YouTube and Spotify!
    2. Visit Moddy’s Website
    3. Learn about the Portland Aquarium
    4. Shop the Mike Bennett Studios store
    5. Follow us on Instagram: @thezooquarium
    6. Follow Mike on Instagram: @mikebennettart
    7. Follow Mike on TikTok: @mikebennettart
    8. Subscribe to the Mike Bennett Studios YouTube Channel
    9. Follow Chanel on Instagram: @pschanel
    10. Learn about The Elakha Alliance: elakhaalliance.org

    The Zooquarium Podcast releases every other Tuesday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you’re informed when new episodes come out! Video versions are available on YouTube and Spotify. Bonus videos for episodes are released one week after the relevant episode drops exclusively on YouTube or by visiting the show page at thezooquarium.com/podcast

    Credits
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    17 mins
  • What Are Those Giant Beaks on Toucans About?

    What Are Those Giant Beaks on Toucans About?
    Feb 17 2026

    Izzy asks: What Are Those Giant Beaks on Toucans About? Yeah, what ARE they about?! Luckily, Mike and Chanel are friends with Aimee Owen, the Cincinnati Zoo's Aviculture Senior Keeper (bird keeper), to tell us ALL ABOUT toucans and their giant beaks. And since The Zooquarium Podcast smushes science and art, Mike makes sure to ask about some fictional toucans in movies, tv shows, and breakfast cereal commercials.

    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!

    1. Learn more about the Cincinnati Zoo
    2. Learn about the Portland Aquarium
    3. Shop the Mike Bennett Studios store
    4. Follow us on Instagram: @thezooquarium
    5. Follow Mike on Instagram: @mikebennettart
    6. Follow Mike on TikTok: @mikebennettart
    7. Subscribe to the Mike Bennett Studios YouTube Channel
    8. Follow Chanel on Instagram: @pschanel
    9. Learn about The Elakha Alliance: elakhaalliance.org

    The Zooquarium Podcast releases every other Tuesday. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you’re informed when new episodes come out! Video versions are available on YouTube and Spotify. Bonus videos for episodes are released one week after the relevant episode drops exclusively on YouTube or by visiting the show page at thezooquarium.com/podcast

    Credits

    1. Hosted by:
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    10 mins
  • Why Do Centipedes Have So Many Legs?

    Why Do Centipedes Have So Many Legs?
    Mar 3 2026
    Sloane asks: Why Do Centipedes Have So Many Legs? Seriously, there's SO MANY! Mike and Chanel get down to the bottom of Sloane's question, explain the difference between centipedes and millipedes, and invite special guest Chuck Duke to talk about his experience animating Mr. Centipede for the 1996 movie, James and the Giant Peach.Chuck began his professional career in animation in his early twenties and has since contributed to a wide range of feature films and television productions in the animation and visual effects departments. Aside from James and the Giant Peach, his credits include Fantastic Mr Fox, Isle of Dogs, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, as well as stop-motion animation and effects on Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019), and Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu. 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!Learn more about Chuck DukeLearn about the Portland AquariumShop the Mike Bennett Studios storeFollow Chuck on Instagram: @cdookFollow 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: Chuck DukeProduced & 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 toSloane & Sloane's familyChuck DukeMichele Kraus BennettCayley PaterThe Elakha AllianceTeddy AlbertsonCentipedes in general
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    12 mins
  • Do Sharks Sleep With Their Eyes Open or Closed?

    Do Sharks Sleep With Their Eyes Open or Closed?
    Mar 17 2026
    Griffin asks: Do Sharks Sleep With Their Eyes Open or Closed? What a great question! Mike and Chanel get down to the bottom of Griffin's question with the help of shark expert, Alex McInturf from Oregon State University's Big Fish Lab. Not only do they answer Griffin's question, but they also talk about other shark facts that will blow your minds!Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Dr. Alexandra McInturf received her PhD in Animal Behavior from the University of California, Davis in 2021 and is currently a Research Associate at Oregon State University’s Big Fish Lab and Graduate Faculty in OSU’s Departments of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences and Environmental Sciences.Her research generally focuses on how marine organisms respond to biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) environmental variables and uses this information to contextualize and predict behavior, movement patterns, and survival. Alex explores this topic in threatened marine fishes. She is currently examining the foraging ecology of salmon sharks in Oregon and Alaska (including microplastic ingestion), the distributions of Chinook salmon and their overlap with salmon sharks, the movements of Pacific spiny dogfish, the social lives of sharks generally, and many more species and topics! SO COOL!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 Alex's websiteLearn more about Big Fish LabLearn about the Portland AquariumShop the Mike Bennett Studios storeFollow Big Fish Lab on Instagram: @big_fish_labFollow 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: Alex McInturfProduced & 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 toGriffin & Griffin's familyAlex McInturfMichele Kraus BennettCayley PaterThe Elakha AllianceTeddy AlbertsonSharks in general
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    15 mins