Dr. Jenkins sits down with Dr. Graham Reynolds to explore the fascinating trajectory of his career—from a childhood fascination with nature to a professional focus on reptiles, tropical ecosystems, and island biodiversity. They dive into what makes islands such unique and important places for biodiversity, and why island species are among the most threatened in the world. Dr. Reynolds shares stories from his work on Caribbean boas, including the discovery of new species and insights into their ecology and conservation. The episode concludes with a discussion on the role of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and its efforts to protect snake species globally.

Connect with Dr. Reynolds at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and be sure to check out his books, Boas of the West Indies, and Boas of the World.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

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In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Randy Babb, a lifelong wildlife enthusiast from Arizona with a passion for reptiles and amphibians. Randy spent his career with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, but his adventures have taken him far beyond the American Southwest. Since 2006, he has made annual trips to Vietnam, surveying national parks across the country in search of herpetofauna. He has also worked with National Geographic on projects throughout Latin America and taught in Panama. Together, they dive into Randy’s global field experiences, with a special focus on the remarkable snakes and varied landscapes of Vietnam.

Check out Randy’s books: Snakes of Arizona, and A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians in Arizona.

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 herpetologist Samantha Dillon to talk all things Indigo Snakes. A Florida native, Samantha has a deep-rooted passion for these iconic reptiles and a long-standing involvement in habitat restoration efforts. Now a master’s student at Texas A&M University, she’s focused on studying Texas Indigo Snakes and Texas Tortoises. Together, they explore the ecology of Texas Indigos—covering their distribution, movement patterns, habitat preferences, fascinating ties to tortoises, and reproduction. If you're a fan of Eastern Indigo Snakes, you won’t want to miss this deep dive into their western cousins.

Connect with Samantha at Texas A&M University.

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.