Sean's Wild Life

Prepare for LOLZ. I caught up with my pal Chantelle, CBeebies presenter of teeny Tiny Creatures, Great North Wood project officer for London Wildlife Trust and Future Advisor for former podcast guests Heal Rewilding. I would say we had a great chat but truth is we laughed our way through lots of topics. But on a serious note we did explore why there is a lack of diversity in the nature and conservation space, how things are improving and can be improved further, what it's like to be a young, black woman working in wildlife conservation and how she's coping with a brand new media career. Sean's Wild Life podcast is produced by Sean McCormack, co-produced and edited by Thomas Ntinas. Title track 'A Wild Life' kindly composed and donated by Mark Rose.All costs of production have been self funded. If you've enjoyed this episode and would like to tip me by buying me a coffee you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/seanswildlife.If you would like to sponsor a future episode of Sean's Wild Life please email drseanmccormack@gmail.com and visit www.drseanmccormack.com to learn more about Sean's work.

I caught up with Gareth Steel, vet and author of new book 'Never Work With Animals' which lifts the lid on what it's really like being a vet. We discuss why he wrote the book, some of the stories it contains and how the perception Vs reality of the job often differ when it comes to the general public. Not many know the fact that veterinary medicine has the highest rate of suicide of any profession as well as issues with mental health, burnout and a high departure rate. We discuss the complex factors that feed into this problem, as well as some of the difficult topics like the use of alternative therapies in pets, balancing economic concerns of pet owners and farmers with animal welfare and of course some of the entertaining and positive experiences of what it means to be a vet. A must listen episode for anyone who ever thought "Oh I'd love to have been a vet" or has children interested in joining the profession. Sean's Wild Life podcast is produced by Sean McCormack, co-produced and edited by Thomas Ntinas. Title track 'A Wild Life' kindly composed and donated by Mark Rose.All costs of production have been self funded. If you've enjoyed this episode and would like to tip me by buying me a coffee you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/seanswildlife.If you would like to sponsor a future episode of Sean's Wild Life please email drseanmccormack@gmail.com and visit www.drseanmccormack.com to learn more about Sean's work.

In this episode we're moving away from wildlife and nature conservation to a serious animal welfare issue I face in my career as a vet, exploring the issues of flat faced or brachycephalic dog breeds. I'm joined by two incredibly knowledgeable guests, Alison Skipper and Dr Rowena Packer. Alison is a vet studying a PhD in the history of pedigree dog breeding and welfare. Rowena is a companion animal behaviour and welfare scientist at the Royal Vet College. Together we explore when and why the trend for flat faced dogs appeared, why they are popular, what problems they suffer from as a result of their extreme appearance and what can be done about it. It's a fascinating insight into a complex topic.Dr Packer is recruiting recent puppy owners for a survey in to pandemic puppy ownership, so if you fit the bill please do partake by 11th March here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Pups2021Cover image courtesy of CRUFFA (Campaign for the Responsible Use of Flat Faced Animals in Advertising. https://www.facebook.com/groups/cruffa).Sean's Wild Life podcast is produced by Sean McCormack, co-produced and edited by Thomas Ntinas. Title track 'A Wild Life' kindly composed and donated by Mark Rose.All costs of production have been self funded. If you've enjoyed this episode and would like to tip me by buying me a coffee you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/seanswildlife.If you would like to sponsor a future episode of Sean's Wild Life please email drseanmccormack@gmail.com and visit www.drseanmccormack.com to learn more about Sean's work.

It's a podcast crossover episode this time as I meet with fellow podcaster Ryan Dalton, host of the excellent nature podcast 'Into the Wild' (https://intothewild.podbean.com/). I brought Ryan to a top secret location last Spring to find adders, Britain's only venomous reptile as he'd only recently seen his first one and wanted to see more. I visit this site each year and told him I'd guarantee him some adders to photograph and marvel at. Maybe even find a legendary black adder? We weren't only there for a snake hunt however. We wanted to explore and discuss a topic we'd chatted about several times before, our pet's impact on nature and wildlife. With me as a vet and Ryan as a 'doggy daycare' business owner but also both passionate conservationists, there is an uncomfortable conflict at times in advocating for pets V's nature. Many pet owners don't even realise the impact their pets are having. And with the colossal rise in pet ownership since the pandemic began, we ask whether our growing pet population is pushing sensitive wildlife and habitats closer and closer to the brink. A tricky topic, but important to educate and support pet owners to minimises the damage that can be done without even realising.Oh and make sure to listen to the end, something funny and adder-shaped happens!Sean's Wild Life podcast is produced by Sean McCormack, co-produced and edited by Thomas Ntinas. Title track 'A Wild Life' kindly composed and donated by Mark Rose.All costs of production have been self funded. If you've enjoyed this episode and would like to tip me by buying me a coffee you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/seanswildlife.If you would like to sponsor a future episode of Sean's Wild Life please email drseanmccormack@gmail.com and visit www.drseanmccormack.com to learn more about Sean's work.

Chatting with marine biologist and fish ecologist Professor Steve Simpson from the University of Bristol about ocean health, his incredible research on rebuilding coral reefs using sound technology, using the underwater soundscape to monitor ecosystem change and the mission he set me and the team of Changing Planet: Britain's Wildest to record the longest ocean sound transect ever completed in UK waters.Sean's Wild Life podcast is produced by Sean McCormack, co-produced and edited by Thomas Ntinas. Title track 'A Wild Life' kindly composed and donated by Mark Rose. All costs of production have been self funded. If you've enjoyed this episode and would like to tip me by buying me a coffee you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/seanswildlife. If you would like to sponsor a future episode of Sean's Wild Life please email drseanmccormack@gmail.com and visit www.drseanmccormack.com to learn more about Sean's work.

On a trip home to Ireland I took a wander with my Dad on Christmas Eve on his friend, Anthony Mooney's farm, where biodiversity is treated with just as much importance as beef production. Anthony tells us about the habitat features he's brought back to the landscape, how his haymaking approach benefits wildlife more than intensive silage production, his recent re-wetting experiment of one of his fields and his part in the Irish 'Protecting Farmland Pollinators' scheme. Come along on a farmland walk with myself , my Dad Tom McCormack (ex-Chair of Birdwatch Ireland Kildare branch) and Anthony Mooney, one of Ireland's most nature friendly farmers.Sean's Wild Life podcast is produced by Sean McCormack, co-produced and edited by Thomas Ntinas. Title track 'A Wild Life' kindly composed and donated by Mark Rose. All costs of production have been self funded. If you've enjoyed this episode and would like to tip me by buying me a coffee you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/seanswildlife. If you would like to sponsor a future episode of Sean's Wild Life please email drseanmccormack@gmail.com and visit www.drseanmccormack.com to learn more about Sean's work.

An enjoyable ramble in nature with the lovely Lorraine Kelly and equally gorgeous Angus, her Border Terrier. Did you know that Lorraine is a closet bird nerd? Well she is, and we chat all about her travels and relationship with nature, animals and enthusiasm for birds. Angus keeps us on our toes throughout, and we encounter a few little surprises along the way. Come join us on a gorgeous walk by the river!Sean's Wild Life podcast is produced by Sean McCormack, co-produced and edited by Thomas Ntinas. Title track 'A Wild Life' kindly composed and donated by Mark Rose. All costs of production have been self funded. If you've enjoyed this episode and would like to tip me by buying me a coffee you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/seanswildlife. If you would like to sponsor a future episode of Sean's Wild Life please email drseanmccormack@gmail.com and visit www.drseanmccormack.com to learn more about Sean's work.Skylark song courtesy of Patrik Aberg (Xeno-canto).

I had a long overdue chat with zoologist, wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Megan McCubbin to talk about her career journey and how the pandemic impacted not only her path but that of many others when it comes to nature appreciation. We discuss the role of social media in bringing like minded young conservationists and environmentalists together, but also the downsides of social media and how best to manage them.We explore topics that Megan and co-author Chris Packham delve into in their book, 'Back to Nature: How to love life - and save it'. Topics such as eco-activism, lobbying and extinction rebellion, to rewilding and reintroduction of top predators into our landscapes, how to engage people with nature and of course climate change. We also hear all about Megan's summer filming a brand new BBC TV series 'Chris and Meg's Wild Summer' out now on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.Sean's Wild Life podcast is produced by Sean McCormack, co-produced and edited by Thomas Ntinas. Title track 'A Wild Life' kindly composed and donated by Mark Rose. All costs of production have been self funded. If you've enjoyed this episode and would like to tip me by buying me a coffee you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/seanswildlife. If you would like to sponsor a future episode of Sean's Wild Life please email drseanmccormack@gmail.com and visit www.drseanmccormack.com to learn more about Sean's work.Cover photo credit: Megan McCubbin.

Biologist, presenter, public speaker, voiceover artist, writer and mother, Gillian Burke has a lot to say. So it was a delight to have a proper chat about her upbringing and career journey to date, her hopes for our planet and humanity as well as the challenges we are facing. Perhaps best know for her presenting role on BBC Springwatch and the spin off Autumn and Winterwatch shows, we talk about her somewhat tumultuous appearance and public reception on the show, as well as the importance of diversity in the natural sciences and the natural history field.We also explore Gillian's self confessed passion for supporting the underdog, speaking out on oppression and tackling tough environmental issues. We ponder on 2020, the year that threw a lot at us from Black Lives Matter, global pandemic, continued ecological destruction and environmental battles close to home like HS2. Finally Gillian shares her top three Instagram accounts to follow and they are a great selection.Sean's Wild Life podcast is produced by Sean McCormack, co-produced and edited by Thomas Ntinas. Title track 'A Wild Life' kindly composed and donated by Mark Rose. All costs of production have been self funded. If you've enjoyed this episode and would like to tip me by buying me a coffee you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/seanswildlife. If you would like to sponsor a future episode of Sean's Wild Life please email drseanmccormack@gmail.com and visit www.drseanmccormack.com to learn more about Sean's work.Cover photo credit: Gillian Burke.