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A Journey Into Wolf Park with Ryan Talbot [Episode 270]

Release Date: 12/29/2025

Lessons from a Lifetime in Behaviour with Karen Deeds [Episode 279]

Animal Training Academy

In this episode of the Animal Training Academy Podcast, Ryan Cartlidge is joined by Karen Deeds — a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the IAABC and co-owner of Canine Connection in Memphis. Bringing over three decades of experience across assistance dogs, the veterinary profession, and competitive sports, Karen shares a profound "origin story" from the early 1990s—a traumatic assault that her own dog intervened in—which shifted her entire focus from traditional obedience training to the complex emotional world of animal behaviour. Together, Ryan and Karen explore the...

Finding Your Flow: Artistry in Dog Training with Steve Goodall [Episode 278]

Animal Training Academy

In this candid and soulful exploration of the trainer’s journey, Ryan Cartlidge sits down with Steve Goodall — a director of Packed Dogs Limited , an ABTC registered animal training instructor , and a published author based in a small hamlet in Wales . Steve offers a refreshing look at the "why" behind our interactions with animals, drawing on his eclectic background in the DIY punk music scene and sound engineering to highlight the delicate balance between technical protocols and creative intuition . From his early days as a postman to leading a nationally recognized training...

Clarity, Credibility & Collaboration with Natalie Light [Episode 277]

Animal Training Academy

In this thoughtful and practical conversation, Ryan Cartlidge is joined by Natalie Light — canine behaviourist, trainer, and director at PACT Dogs Ltd (Professional Association of Canine Trainers) in the UK. With a background that blends hands-on behaviour work, professional education, and a strong commitment to raising standards within the industry, Natalie brings a refreshingly grounded perspective to one of the most important (and often misunderstood) topics in dog training: what “good training” really looks like when we centre welfare, ethics, and long-term outcomes. Together, Ryan...

Building Values-Driven, Resilient Training Careers with Jason Light [Episode 276] 24032026

Animal Training Academy

In this perspective-shifting conversation, Ryan Cartlidge is joined by Jason Light — director at PACT Dogs Limited in the UK, sustainability consultant through Green Robin Consulting, and a chartered environmentalist with over 20 years of senior leadership experience, including serving as Head of Sustainability for an NHS Foundation Trust. Bringing a rare strategic lens to the animal training profession, Jason challenges us to think about “sustainability” as something far bigger than environmental impact alone — and instead, as the foundation for building ethical, resilient,...

Doing It Anyway: Confidence, Marketing & Growth with Veronica Boutelle [Episode 275]

Animal Training Academy

In this thoughtful and business-boosting conversation, Ryan Cartlidge is joined by returning guest Veronica Boutelle — founder of Dogbiz, author of How to Run a Dog Business, and a long-time leader in helping positive reinforcement dog trainers build sustainable, values-aligned businesses. With a rare blend of experience as a professional dog trainer, business owner, and former classroom teacher, teacher educator, and curriculum developer, Veronica brings a grounded, practical lens to the “softer skills” that can make or break a trainer’s confidence, visibility, and long-term success....

Michael Shikashio on Professionalism, Polarisation, and the Future of Dog Training [Episode 274]

Animal Training Academy

In this episode of the Animal Training Academy Podcast, host Ryan Cartlidge is joined by returning guest Michael Shikashio for a wide-ranging conversation about professionalism, community, and the future of the dog training industry. Michael Shikashio is the founder of AggressiveDog.com, a leading expert in working with aggression cases, a five-time past President of the IAABC, the 2020 APTT Member of the Year, and host of The Bitey End of the Dog podcast. Drawing on decades of experience supporting trainers across more than 20 countries, Michael brings a global, grounded perspective to the...

Inside Zoo School: Learning, Leadership, and Care with Dr. Susan Friedman & Rick Hester [Episode 273]

Animal Training Academy

In this insightful and future-focused episode of the Animal Training Academy Podcast, Ryan Cartlidge is joined by two pioneers in applied behavior analysis and professional animal education: Dr. Susan Friedman and Rick Hester, as they introduce and explore their newest collaborative project, Zoo School. Dr. Susan Friedman brings decades of experience as a psychology professor, behavior analyst, and internationally respected educator whose work has profoundly shaped humane, evidence-based animal training across species. Rick Hester joins the conversation as a seasoned zoo professional,...

Practicing Gratitude Inside and Outside ATA with Ryan Cartlidge, Shelly Wood & Belinda Young [Episode 272]

Animal Training Academy

In this reflective and values-driven episode of the Animal Training Academy Podcast, ATA team members Ryan Cartlidge, Shelly Wood, and Belinda Young come together for a thoughtful discussion on gratitude - one of Animal Training Academy’s core values - and the meaningful role it plays in learning, community, and wellbeing. Drawing from personal experience and professional practice, Ryan, Shelly, and Belinda explore how intentional gratitude shapes ATA’s culture and supports safer, more compassionate spaces for human learners. From early-morning thought loops and professional challenges to...

Engineering Better Husbandry with Ryan Talbot [Episode 271]

Animal Training Academy

In the second part of our conversation with Ryan Talbot, Behavioral Enrichment and Training Manager at Wolf Park, we continue exploring how behavior science, engineering, and thoughtful creativity come together in Ryan’s work with wolves and wolf dogs. Ryan shares how small, systematic changes can create meaningful shifts in cooperative care, and how approaching husbandry through a constructional, stepwise lens helps both animals and humans experience more clarity and choice. Ryan and host Ryan Cartlidge dig into the practical realities of teaching complex behaviors to apex species. They...

A Journey Into Wolf Park with Ryan Talbot [Episode 270]

Animal Training Academy

In this first part of our conversation with Ryan Talbot, Behavioral Enrichment and Training Manager at Wolf Park, we dive into the winding and thoughtful path that brought him from computer engineering into the world of applied behavior analysis and cooperative care. Ryan shares how a formative visit to Wolf Park opened his eyes to the power of relationships built through understanding another being’s umwelt, setting him on a path of lifelong learning in behavior science. Across the episode, Ryan reflects on how engineering thinking and behavior analysis intersect in his work. He discusses...

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In this first part of our conversation with Ryan Talbot, Behavioral Enrichment and Training Manager at Wolf Park, we dive into the winding and thoughtful path that brought him from computer engineering into the world of applied behavior analysis and cooperative care. Ryan shares how a formative visit to Wolf Park opened his eyes to the power of relationships built through understanding another being’s umwelt, setting him on a path of lifelong learning in behavior science.

Across the episode, Ryan reflects on how engineering thinking and behavior analysis intersect in his work. He discusses debugging software versus analyzing behavior, the parallels between instrumentation and communication, and how these concepts helped shape his approach to training wolves with clarity and compassion. Ryan also describes the early cooperative care efforts at Wolf Park, from reducing reliance on human wolf bonds to developing voluntary, transferable husbandry behaviors with the help of colleagues and mentors.

Together, Ryan and host Ryan Cartlidge explore themes of motivation, imposter syndrome, community, and what it means to contribute to a field from an unconventional starting point. From building wooden target blocks to prototyping touchscreen devices for wolves, Ryan shares how creativity, curiosity, and open source values influence both his training and his desire to help others learn and grow alongside their animals.

Throughout this episode, we explore:

✅ The moment at Wolf Park that sparked Ryan’s interest in behavior and umwelt
✅ How engineering concepts like debugging and instrumentation map onto behavior analysis
✅ The evolution of cooperative care training with wolves and wolf dogs at Wolf Park
✅ Why Ryan sees behavior as a physical science governed by predictable laws
✅ The influence of mentors and colleagues throughout his learning journey
✅ Thoughts on imposter syndrome, industry identity, and finding one’s place in the training community
✅ Open source values, tinkering, and creative tools that support clearer communication with learners

This conversation offers a fascinating look at how diverse backgrounds enrich our field, and how curiosity and compassion can shape meaningful work with animals.

Links

https://wolfpark.org/

https://www.facebook.com/wolfparkindiana

https://www.instagram.com/wolfparkindiana/

Links papers referred to during conversation:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40617-023-00890-1

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40617-023-00850-9

Throughout this episode, we explore:

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