Shows
Science Of The TimesNatural and artificial genetic hybrids: dogs, coyotes and dire wolves.Colossal Bioscience has brought genetic variation back from the grave. It is a remarkable technological achievement, but is it species de-extinction? We talk to Professor Bridgett vonHoldt, a world-leading dog geneticist, who was involved in Colossal Bioscience’s recent dire wolf de-extinction work that has caused some controversy. In part 2 of this podcast we talk a world-leading ecologist who gives us his - different - take.The link below is a genetics paper, not talking about de-extinction.https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.09.647074v12025-04-1738 min
The Wolf ConnectionEpisode #218 Bridgett VonHoldt & Kristin Brzeski - Updated Research on Ghost WolvesBridgett VonHoldt and Kristin Brzeski are the Director and Co-Director of the Gulf Coast Canine Project. The GCCP was created to encompass their research and the community-based approach they are developing to understand, monitor, and manage the unique canines persisting across the Gulf Coast.Bridgett and Kristin gave updates on genomics research, community scientific engagement, expansion of non-invasive data collection, and future goals of the project. Gulf Coast Canine Project@thewolfconnectionpod2025-03-211h 11
Smologies with Alie WardWOLVES with Bridgett vonHoldtWolf howls, wolf packs, wolf history and more! We’re dishing up a puppy-sized and kid-friendly Smologies with lupinologist and Princeton professor Dr. Brigette vonHoldt. Learn about wolf populations, canine family dynamics, Game of Thrones direwolves, if wolves howl at the moon, myths and truths about alphas, and how you can help our lupine friends. Follow Brigette on BlueskyCheck out The vonHoldt Lab and Dr. Vonholdt’s BenefunderA donation went to Red Wolf CoalitionFull-length (*not* G-rated) Lupinology episode + tons of science linksMore kid-friendly Smologies episodes!...2024-07-1825 min
For the Wild OnesGhost Wolves vs MargaritavilleTwo wolf geneticists confront the struggle to balance economic growth with wildlife and habitat preservation in Galveston, Texas.
FEATURING
Dr. Bridgett vonHoldt and Dr. Kristin E. Brzeski from the Gulf Coast Canine Project
Ghost wolf photos here.
MUSIC
For the Wild Ones Theme Song by Priya Darshini
Let There Be Peace by Nova Beat Estate
2024-04-1947 minThe Wolf ConnectionEpisode #161 Bridgett VonHoldt & Kristin Brzeski - Galveston Island "Ghost Wolves"Bridgett VonHoldt and Kristin Brzeski are the Director and Co-Director of the Gulf Coast Canine Project. The GCCP was created to encompass their research and the community-based approach they are developing to understand, monitor, and manage the unique canines persisting across the Gulf Coast.With habitat being threatened of these unique canids on Galveston Island in Texas, the GCCP has looked at the ecological impact on "Ghost Wolves" and are trying to create environmentally conscious spaces. Bridgett and Kristin went into detail about their expanded research, strategies to bring eco-tourists to Galveston Island, and form...2024-02-161h 02
INSTINCTThe wisdom of wolves: fluid leadership and pack mentalityIn the first episode of INSTINCT, we dive into the world of Wolves to uncover lessons on leadership. Despite the misguided reputation of the ‘lone wolf’, wolves are practitioners of fluid leadership, knowing when to step forward and step back into different strengths based on the needs of the pack. These animals exemplify teamwork, adaptability, and sensitivity to each other’s needs, and their dynamic leadership model offers insights into how to build an effective and empathetic team.
In today’s episode, we discuss:
The ‘lone wolf’ myth
Rotating leadership to meet the needs of the...2023-10-0547 minThe Wolf ConnectionEpisode #93 International Wolf Symposium #1 - Bridgett VonHoldt, Kristin Brzeski, Joey Hinton/Gulf Coast Canine ProjectThis is the first of our podcasts recorded at The International Wolf Symposium in Minneapolis, Minnesota!Bridgett VonHoldt, Kristin Brzeski, and Joey Hinton are all co-founders of the Gulf Coast Canine Project. The goals of the project are to understand the genetic ancestry of the unique wild canines persisting along the Gulf Coast of the United States and study how red wolf ancestry affects morphology and behavior.We discussed their work both individually and as colleagues, and their experiences being at The International Wolf Symposium for the first time. Gulf Coast Canine Project2022-10-2029 minThe Wolf ConnectionEpisode #87 Bridgett VonHoldt - Genomic Studies in Wolves & 'Ghost' GenesBridgett VonHoldt is the Associate Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University. She has been studying ecological epigenomics which address the ecological and evolutionary questions regarding animals adaptations & response to selection. Bridgett spoke to us about her work regarding the genomic & phenotypic diversity between dogs and wolves, and how captured coyotes in the Gulf Coast of the United States could be harboring red wolf genes in their populations. Coyotes with Dog Genomic AncestryPopulation Structure and Gene Flow in Grey Wolf Populations of the Northern Rockies 'Ghost' DNA Red Wolves...2022-08-261h 20
Ologies with Alie WardSmologies #6: WOLVES with Bridgett vonHoldtANNOUNCEMENT: SMOLOGIES NOW HAS ITS OWN FEED! SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES EVERY THURSDAY. Subscribe to Smologies: https://pod.link/1746567248Wolf howls, wolf packs, wolf history and more! November 23 is the dog appreciation holiday Wolfenoot so we’re dishing up a puppy-sized and kid-friendly Smologies with lupinologist and Princeton professor Dr. Brigette vonHoldt. Learn about wolf populations, canine family dynamics, Game of Thrones direwolves, if wolves howl at the moon, myths and truths about alphas, and how you can help our lupine friends. The full, uncut, NSFW Lupinology episodeMORE Smologies episodes...2021-11-2226 min
BioScience TalksTrump Administration Delists Gray Wolves: Response from the ExpertsOn 29 October 2020, the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced the "successful recovery" of the US gray wolf population, with US Secretary of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt stating that the species had "exceeded all conservation goals for recovery." These claims have been rebutted by numerous experts, who argue that the delisting decision is premature. Writing in BioScience, independent ecologist Carlos Carroll and colleagues argue that the declarations of recovery should be based on a more ambitious definition of recovery than one requiring the existence of a single secure population. Instead, they propose a framework for the "conservation...2020-11-1144 min
The BuzzerScience Proves Your Dog Really Does Love You
A new book from Clive Wynne (founder of the Canine Science Collaboratory at Arizona State University) claims that dogs are, indeed, capable of “love” as we would define it. Wynne’s research suggests that dogs are not very bright compared to other animals, but are separated due to their “hyper sociability.” Wynne has observed substantial spikes in Oxytocin (the bonding chemical) when dogs stare into human eyes. It should be noted that in 2009 geneticist Bridgett vonHoldt discovered that dogs have a mutation responsible for Williams syndrome often found in humans. Williams Syndrome is also characterized by intellectual limitations, extreme friendliness, and a desi...2020-03-0909 min
Ologies with Alie WardLupinology (WOLVES) with Bridgett vonHoldtWolf howls, wolf packs, wolf pups and more! As the holiday Wolfenoot approaches, lupinologist and Princeton professor Dr. Brigette vonHoldt sits down to talk about her research looking at everything from wolf populations to modern dog behavior, canine family dynamics, Game of Thrones direwolves, Yellowstone wolfies, the ecological impact of predators, if wolves howl at the moon, myths and truths about alphas, the wolf movie she refuses to see, how dog and human genetics are similar, and how you can help our lupine friends. Also: how social media is howling for humans.The vonHoldt Lab: https://vonholdt...2019-11-191h 16