On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by researcher Dave Knieter to talk about trophy hunting. Having lived in multiple states and countries, Dave is a self-described "geographic mutt”. After serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa (2003-05) he settled down in Missouri for ten years, where he earned masters degrees in Education and Geography. It was the latter discipline that got him interested in the politics of conservation and the making of “wild” spaces....

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Alicia Prygoski to discuss Arkansas's recently passed Ag-Gag Bill. Alicia is a public policy coordinator for farm animal protection at the Humane Society of the United States. She holds a law degree from Western Michigan University and was previously a lobbyist for an environmental organization in Michigan. Alicia now lives in Washington DC with her rescue dog, Patches.

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, Celia is joined by Gil Webb, Cookie's dad, and Sara, Tumbleweed's mom. Cookie is an Eastern Gray Squirrel who was found at a day old. She required months of close attention and care to pull through. She now lives in Florida with her chihuahua, horse, cat and human. Tumbleweed is 19 months old and suffers from hydrocephalus. Most people know this as water on the brain. He isn't your typical squirrel and can't do most things squirrels do. We love...

On this week's episode of Animal Instinct, host Celia is joined in studio by Dr. James Brusseau, PhD in philosophy, and author of numerous books and articles in the history of philosophy and ethics. His most recent is the short narrative nonfiction Dignity, Pleasures, Vulgarity, which investigates animal rights reflecting between the nonhuman and human animal realms.

This week on Animal Instinct, Professor Frank Grasso is back to chat with Celia about monk parakeets. If you live in Brooklyn you've probably seen one of these small green birds. Nobody knows for sure, but Professor Grasso gives us a few possible explanations for why there are so many monk parakeets in this specific region of NYC.

This week on Animal Instinct, Celia is joined in studio by Frank Grasso. Frank is a Professor of Psychology at Brooklyn College the City University of New York. He directs the BioMimetic and Cognitive Robotics research laboratory there the aim of which is to understand how brains control and coordinate behavior in animals. His research with octopuses follows the lab philosophy that to understand brain function one must be able study the organism, build a brain model that captures the...

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia is joined by marine biologist and underwater videographer Josh Stewart. Josh has studied and filmed mantas around the world and has spent several years studying coral recruitment on historic shipwrecks in the Dominican Republic. It was during one of these projects that he saw his first manta ray, and was instantly taken by the beauty and grace of these amazing animals. Josh has filmed for National Geographic and Animal Planet, as well as producing a...

Can spiders hear? Do they see color? What are their webs made of? Tune in and learn about the world of spiders as host Celia talks to researcher and spider specialist Dr. Todd Blackledge, Leuchtag Endowed Professor of Biology at The University of Akron. Dr. Blackledge has spent his life studying spiders and their webs to understand how spider silks evolved into a toolkit of diverse fibers that includes some of nature’s toughest and stretchiest materials.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined in studio by Dr. Taylor Truitt founder of The Vet Set. Dr. Truitt brings veterinary care to homes, offices, or hotels to avoid the stress her patients might experience during a trip to the vet's office. The Vet Set also offers "Fear Free" hospital visits, where pets can receive surgery, dental care, x-rays, ultrasound and critical care.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined by Sharon Nunez, president and co-founder of Animal Equality. Sharon talks about the release of iAnimal, an immersive virtual reality experience into the lives of farmed animals. iAnimal uses cutting-edge virtual reality technology to give viewers an immersive look at the life cycle of factory farmed animals from birth to death. This latest project features footage filmed by 13 investigators in six countries.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia is joined by Lisa Luckenbach from WiggleLess, a company specialized in back braces for dogs. Lisa explains how to find the best back brace for your pet to protect it after surgery, injury or disease. Inspired by her own struggles with back pain, Lisa decided to start a business to ensure the well-being of our furry friends.

On the season premiere of Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined by Denise Herman, the founder and head trainer for Empire of the Dog. She is a Valedictorian Graduate of the Academy for Dog Trainers – widely considered the "Harvard of dog schools." After graduation, she was hired as a staff trainer at the San Francisco SPCA and opened Empire of the Dog in 2000. Tune in to hear them discuss why dog trainers are so important, even if you think you already know a lot about dogs!

On the season finale of Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined in the studio by Zeke Freeman of Bee Raw Honey. Working as an advisor to Beehive Bee Products, Inc., Freeman repackaged the company's honeys in clear, retro-inspired glass jars, earning recognition in Metropolitan Home’s Top 100. In 2005, Freeman acquired majority ownership of Beehive Bee Products, in partnership with Sam Yocum, a photographer and designer. Freeman and Yocum re-launched the company under its current...

Today on Animal Instinct, actress, model, and animal lover Missy Hargraves calls in to tell us about her efforts rescuing creatures when catastrophe strikes. Hargraves' past work has included documenting the claustrophobic conditions suffered by dolphins in Japan's Taiji Whale Museum. The museum is in close proximity to the infamous cove denounced in the hit documentary The Cove.

Today on Animal Instinct, we talk to the talented Olivia Barash. In a past life, Barash played the female lead role of “Leila” in cult classic Repo Man. Continuing her career in Hollywood, she's gotten to work with the likes of Robert Downey, Jr. and Johnny Depp. But let's talk about animals! In the last year, Olivia has been hard at work on BarkvilleTV with her new production company, Original Pixel Cowboys. A YouTube channel, Barkville TV stars dogs rather than humans, and seeks to help...

Today on Animal Instinct, we hear from Tod Enko, a conservationist who founded the first and only free, year-round animal hospital in the Galápagos Islands: Darwin Animal Doctors. Tod also created an international humane education program called "A Piggy's Tale," based on the life of his dog. He now endeavors to stop poaching in Sumatra's Leuser Ecosystem, a UN World Heritage Site.

Today on Animal Instinct, we hear from guest Val Nassetta – who cares after convalescent raccoons – about the benefits of keeping this animal around in society (hint: they eat ticks!).

Today on Animal Instinct, we're joined by documentary filmmaker Yeray Lopez Portillo, who's working on a film about hunting dog culture in Spain. Yo Galgo tells the story of the galgo, a greyhound breed treated like goods rather than creatures. Used for hunting down hare, a strong hunting dog has a short shelf life, such that thousands are abandoned or killed at the end of each hunting season. Yeray tells us about his journey sharing the plight of the galgo on camera.

This week on Animal Instinct, host Celia Kutcher is joined in the studio by Ada Nieves, a certified pet fashion designer by The Fashion Institute and Technology of NYC. Ada is also co-chair and creative director for the New York Pet Fashion Show, a standing member of the Pet Fashion Professionals Association, and an animal talent manager and pet stylist who has been featured on a number of TV programs. Also joining is Jennifer-Jo Moyer, troop leader for PupScouts.org. Tune in to hear them...

Today on Animal Instinct, we speak with Elizabeth M. Goudie-DeAngelis, an animal anesthesiologist trained in putting under creatures ranging from cats, dogs, boas, turtles, tigers and eels!

Forbes Ellis works in a hospice in Santa Cruz, California, where he's been working to bring dogs into a palliative care program at the facility. We'll be talking about the comfort brought by canines, even as we humans face our final moments.

Today on Animal Instinct, we're joined by oceans expert Matthias Elliot to talk all about global warming's "ugly step-sister:" ocean acidification. Man-made carbon emissions affect the pH level of the planet's oceans; listen in to learn all about what that does to their ecology and wildlife.

Today on Animal Instinct, we talk to nutritionist Cynthia Farris about introducing fermented foods in your dog's diet. The reputed benefits of probiotics might not stop at helping the human gut, but could extend to canines, too.

Today on Animal Instinct, Dana Humphrey joins us in the studio to tell us all about cannabidiol and how it can help your pet with chronic pain. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a hemp derivative – not a cannabis derivative – so it won't give your cat or dog the munchies.

Today on Animal Instinct, we have both an excellent guest host and an excellent guest! Julia Szabo is sitting in for Celia Kutcher, and she's joined by Laura Pople, the founder of a non-profit organization that helps people keep their pets in times of crisis. New Jersey's Seer Farms helps shelter “foreclosure pets” and other animals attached to families going through tough times.