Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA

This episode Amy Schilz, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo & International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffes, provides some great learning and advice for creating a three way dialogue when training with multiple trainers.  This podcast is a companion to Amy’s presentation at the 2026 ABMA-IAATE annual conference titled “Three Way Communication: Creating Clear Contingencies for Learners Working with Multiple Trainers”. Amy starts the episode by discussing the three way dialogue when training with multiple trainers and how each party is providing cues.  The discussion continues with information on how to give control to the animal to start, stop, and continue and the adjustments that we can, and should be making, after an animal says “no”.  Finally, Amy explains advice for keeping criterion consistent and effectively planning and discussing all of the various considerations when training with multiple trainers. Stay tuned in for Amy’s "Training Tale" about the success of one of the newer trainers at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠abc@theabma.org⁠⁠ and to reach Amy email ⁠giraffe@cmzoo.org. 
For more information on the International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffes visit: https://giraffecenter.cmzoo.org/
3:00 Introduction to Amy Schilz
8:00 International Center for the Care and Conservation of Giraffes 
14:50 Three Way Communication when training with multiple trainers 
18:40 Advice for starting to train with multiple trainers 
21:00 How are each party providing cues 
30:00 Adjusting what we are doing after an animal says “no” 
33:25 Advice for effectively navigating between schedules of reinforcement in a session 
37:00 How to keep criterion consistent 
44:10 How to give control to the animal and discuss amongst all trainers 
51:35 Advice for making a plan with all of the considerations 
53:45 “Training Tales”

This episode SK Ivkovich, Dolphin Research Center, provides some great learning and advice for training social animals in a group with one trainer.  This podcast is a companion to SK’s presentation at the 2026 ABMA-IAATE annual conference titled “Three’s a Crowd? Benefits of Training Social Animals in a Multi-Animal Group with One Trainer”. SK starts the discussion by advocating for the many benefits, to both animals and humans, of training social animals in a group.  SK also focuses on the importance of focusing on the individual in the group and the role of the social hierarchy.  The episode finishes on some advice for how to get started training social animals in a group. Stay tuned in for SK’s "Training Tale" about DRC’s new harbor seals! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠abc@theabma.org⁠ and to reach SK email sarah.ivkovich@dolphins.org 
To learn more about the Dolphin Research Center’s Professional Animal Trainer Program visit https://dolphins.org/drcti_professional_trainer_certificate_program and to learn more about the Dolphin Academy Program visit https://dolphins.org/drcti_professional_trainer_certificate_program
3:15 Introduction to SK Ivkovich 

4:50 Information on Dolphin Research Center’s Professional Animal Trainer Program and Dolphin Academy Program 

10:15 The benefits of training social animals in a group 

18:00 The benefits to the trainers 

22:10 How to focus on each individual while training in a group 

25:50 The role of social hierarchy 

39:50 Advice for starting a session with multiple animals 

48:55 Bridging animals in a group 

57:00 “Training Tale”

This episode, through daily live recordings, features a recap of the 2026 ABMA-IAATE Annual Joint Conference (March 30-April 2, 2026) hosted by Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio, United States. Each day of the conference, one of the presenters for the day discusses their presentation and other learning that impacted them. 
Day 1: Brett Williams, North Carolina Zoo, United States
Day 2: Tzu Ying Lee, Mandai Wildlife Group, Singapore
Day 3: Tom Morath, Hawk Conservancy Trust & Nature’s A Hoot Podcast, United Kingdom
If you are an ABMA member be sure to log in to AnimalProfessional.com to watch most of the presentations from the 2026 conference. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email abc@theabma.org. 
To purchase Podcast Merchandise visit the ABMA online store at: https://www.sawdustandinkapparel.com/abma26
Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!
8:40 Day One Recap: Brett Williams, North Carolina Zoo 
24:50 Day Two Recap: Tzu Ying Lee, Mandai Wildlife Group 
36:00 Day Three Recap: Tom Morath, Hawk Conservancy Trust & Nature’s a Hoot Podcast

This episode continues on "The Behaviors of..." series which dives into the people side of the animal care field. This episode, is a live panel recording from the 2026 ABMA-IAATE Joint Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States with live submitted questions from conference attendees. The panelists discuss “The Behaviors of Partnering for Success” and give advice for both formal leadership and frontline staff.  Among other topics asked by the live audience, the panelists discuss what it means to be a good teammate, setting up systems for success, how to “disagree well”, and how leadership and staff can partner together for success. The panelist are Chris Jenkins (Virginia Zoo in Norfolk), Cinnamon Eubanks (Saint Louis Zoo - Forest Park Campus), Kit Lacy (Cascades Raptor Center) and Erin Katzner (World Parrot Trust).  For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠⁠abc@theabma.org⁠⁠⁠ 
6:20 What does “Partnering for Success” look like in the animal care field? 

10:55 What is the difference between avian and mammalian trainers? 

16:25 From a leadership perspective, what does it look like to partner for success with your staff? 

25:05 Advice for staff to have a discussion about partnering with their leadership on a project or initiative

33:30 Advice for when there is resistance to change because what happens now “works” 

43:00 Advice for disagreeing well 

51:35 Setting up a departmental system for success 

1:00:10 Advice for leaders to define roles and staff to work within those roles 

1:09:40 Advice when collaboration with a peer isn’t reciprocated 

1:16:10 The behaviors of a good teammate 

1:21:55 What changes or advancements are the panelists most excited for and how can leadership and staff work together to achieve that goal

To commemorate the 75th episode of the podcast, a special guest panel discuss current progressive practices in enrichment and the future of innovative enrichment strategies. The panel consists of Nicki Boyd (San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance), Rick Hester (Cheyenne Mountain Zoo & BehaviorWorks), and Elly Neumann (Jerusalem Zoo).  The discussion starts with looking to nature to inform enrichment and using that knowledge to create environments that are responsive to the animals’ experience.  Next, the panel discusses strategies for setting up an enrichment program for success.  The panel also answers listeners questions about aggression and the evolution of audio enrichment. The episode ends with looking towards the future with the role of animal personality in enrichment and innovative ways to implement a free operant strategy for enrichment.  Instead of a "Training Tale" to end the episode, each panelist gives their best advice for taking your enrichment to new heights. For questions or suggestions about the podcast or to ask any of the panelists a question email ⁠abc@theabma.org⁠
For more information on the ABMA’s virtual conference visit this link: ⁠⁠https://www.theabma.org/virtual-conference⁠
4:35 Introduction to panelists 

8:00 The focus on the animals’ experience and creating a new system 

17:10 Updating the animals’ environment 

24:10 How to look to nature to inform enrichment 

26:40 How can we set up keepers for success when it comes to planning, implementing, and tracking enrichment 

43:40 If an animal is displaying aggressive behaviors towards enrichment, can that impact the animal’s behavior outside of interactions with enrichment? 

51:15  The role individual animal personality plays in enrichment 

59:40 Free Operant Enrichment  

1:07:45 The evolution of “audio” enrichment