Welcome to

Dr. Jones on Pet Life Radio


Jungle Deep - The Tropical Lifestyle Podcast

Explore the jungle! Jungle Deep is the podcast for people who love tropical plants, exotic animals, enchanted places, island music and Tiki culture. People who share their experiences of the jungle. People who care to help preserve the tropical rain forests and people who dare to celebrate their feeling of a deep connection to nature.

Jungle Deep is for you!

I am not that now-famous Dr. Jones of the movies. No, that's not me. You see, Indie is my brother. And just as Indiana so much appreciates the treasures of history known as "antiquities", I have always appreciated the treasures of a different kind, the treasures of nature...treasures of the jungle. We are on safari. Sorry, there is no going back- you are already a part of it. As are: tropical plants and exotic animals, exotica music and jungle movies, tropical cocktails and exotic foods, rain forest preservation and wildlife conservation. And so, I am here with you, to have fun, and to "explore the jungle.

Episode 30 -

Coming soon


Episode Info

Episode 29 -

Coming soon


Episode Info

Episode 28 - Tigers Forever

How do camera traps work?  How has poaching changed over time?  How many tigers are left in the wild?  What is the greatest need for saving tigers from extinction?  Science and nature writer, Sharon Guynup, and National Geographic photographer, Steve Winter, answer these and many more questions about nature's greatest, most beautiful, and endangered predator, the tiger.


Episode Info

Episode 27 - Wildlife Poet Olivia Binfield

Over 2 MILLION views on YouTube and a standing ovation on Britain’s Got Talent represents an unprecedented success for 7 year old Wildlife Poet Olivia.  What other conservationist has delivered their message to so many and looked so charming doing it? 

Olivia Binfield is a conservation hero in my eyes, and I think you will think so, too.  Today we get to meet and talk to Olivia and her mum, in England, about how Olivia did it, why she did it, and what she is doing now to help save animals. And ofcourse, she wants to grow up to be a zoologist.


Episode Info

Episode 26 - Mongabay's Rhett Butler

When you want information about the tropical rain forest, maybe diverse information like, the effects of rainforest destruction on climate change, the mining practices for gold in Brazil, the breeding behavior of jaguars, or of the use of drones in monitoring wildlife in Borneo - where would you go?  Online, for sure - but to which website?  Well, teachers, students, company CEOs, academic PHDs, environmental NGOs, and government officials have been going to the most visited website on the subject of Tropical Rainforests in the world: Mongabay.com.  Mongabay was started 14 years ago by a college student and is today, still piloted by its creator, Rhett Butler.


Episode Info

Episode 25 - The Real Tarzan of Africa, DeWet Du Toit

Today we meet the amazing DeWet Du Toit.  He is the one I call,  the Real African Tarzan!  That's because he does live in Africa, and much of the time he lives as Tarzan lived - in the jungles, climbing trees, diving off waterfalls, and cavorting with elephants and pythons. This Tarzan is complete with gorgeous muscles, a stylish loincloth, and a love for wildlife. This guy is the real deal.  It's taken me months to arrange, but we will finally get to talk to this modern-day Tarzan. DeWet is an actor determined to play Tarzan in the next live action film. He is also a film-maker and excellent at internet marketing, too.  He is a man, who, against all odds and occasional ridicule, is following a dream. Right now, we are connected to DeWet in Africa, and we are going to explore his dream, his life,  and get to know, today's TARZAN!


Episode Info

Episode 24 - Sloths with Stephanie Arne

We are going to talk with our Field Correspondent, Stephanie Arne from the Honolulu Zoo about Sloths.  If you were lucky enough to spot one in the trees of the South American rain forest, it would look like a stringy clump of moss and algae in the branches overhead.  It wouldn't seem to move, because they move so slowly.  And because they live upside down, hanging from tree branches, you wouldn't recognize one as being an animal at all.  But when you get to know a sloth that has been all cleaned up, you find that they are delightful creatures and down-right cute.  Well, thanks to Stephanie, we are going to get to know Sloths.


Episode Info

Episode 23 - Allie Boyer, Teenager, Raises Thousands for Orangutans

Now we get to have a conversation with the one I call, a Rock Star of conservation, the Orangutan's best friend - Allie Boyer. She is a 14 year old who cares about wildlife and decided to DO something about species extinction.  Allie has raised thousands of dollars to help save Orangutans!  I consider Allie, and her mom, Pam, to be inspirations for all of us .  And Allie has proven that children can do important things to help save endangered species.  Share this story with your children.  In fact, Allie is looking for helpers.  She will be happy to show you how to set up a chapter of her fundraising project, she calls, Purses for Primates.  Just ask her!


Episode Info

Episode 22 - Environmental Progress with Dr. Russ Mittermeier

So what did happen in 2012? As a fan of Jungle Deep, you will know that we had an Earth Summit this summer. But there were several other important conferences this year, too. We will hear about:
- The IUCN Congress - the International Union for Conservation of Nature get-together about species conservation which took place in South Korea in September.
- The Biodiversity Convention in India, in October, producing new numbers about the great contribution of Indigenous Community Conservation Areas.
- The Pacific Islands Leaders Forum in August, and the dramatic increase in protected ocean areas.
- The United Nations Convention on Climate Change in Qatar, in December.


Episode Info

Episode 21 - I Was a Hollywood Tarzan Pt2

This is Part 2 of our conversation with character actor and star of the 1959 Hollywood movie, Tarzan, the Ape Man, Denny Miller! In part 1 we got to hear about Denny's early experiences in Hollywood and playing the part of Tarzan. We heard that the Asian Elephants used in the movie had to wear rubber ears to look like African Elephants, that riding elephants entailed using ladders to mount them and since a saddle was out of the question, Tarzan has to worry about a bad chaffing problem as he wore only a loin cloth while sitting on the elephants rough and bristly back. And apparently Tarzans the world over are vulnerable to occasional sudden nasty bites from their co-stars and friends, the chimpanzees.


Episode Info

Episode 20 - I Was a Hollywood Tarzan

This is a particularly fun and funny episode today. We are going to get the inside scoop about what it is like to be a Hollywood Tarzan, through our conversation with actor Denny Miller. Move over Spock! Did you know that the elephants in the Tarzan movies were the first to wear ear appliances? Did you know that Tarzan used a ladder to get on top of his elephant? Did you consider that with an elephant's rough hide, there quickly develops a severe chafing problem when you are wearing only a loincloth? How about a loincloth made of seashells?? Yes, Tarzan wore one but it was scrapped because it was too noisy - he could not sneak up on the bad guys! Is it true that Tarzan had to be constantly ready to punch his cute little co-star in the nose? What?! Yes, hear all about this and more as we speak with successful character actor and Tarzan star, Denny Miller.


Episode Info

Episode 19 - Coffee

To the uninitiated it can be amazing to learn about just how many items we use and enjoy on a daily basis that come from the tropics. Our field correspondent Kelly Patterson is reporting in today about another favorite that some of us would hate to have to do without, and that is Coffee. Where did it come from originally? How much coffee is produced each year? How does the growing of coffee impact the environment? We are going to learn the coffee basics and learn a new way to enjoy coffee with another one of Kelly's recipes.

In addition, we are going to hear some rainforest music from my collection - 2 tracks from the Rainforest Awakening album by Gerardo Miguel Maza. So grab a cup of your favorite steaming coffee, sit back and relax, and enjoy this musical introduction to coffee.


Episode Info

Episode 18 - The Golden Lion Tamarin with Stephanie Arne of the Honolulu Zoo

We have our field correspondent Stephanie Arne, from the Honolulu Zoo, with us today to talk to us about a gorgeous, and extremely rare little primate from the rain forests of Brazil, called the Golden Lion Tamarin. They once roamed the vast forest that stretched from the Atlantic coast to the lnland mountain range of Serra do Mar. They are highly adapted to their environment, which is one reason for concern: fully 99% of their original primary forests has been cut down for agriculture and housing construction. How many are left? Can they be brought back? How do they live and reproduce? We will learn much about these delightful golden creatures.

In addition, we are going to hear some rainforest music from Dr. Jones' collection - 2 tracks from "Cusco - Apurimac ll, Return to Ancient America", the 1994 album by Michael Holm & Kristian Shultze. As our jungle species for today is South American, so is our music tropical American. Notice the beautiful pan flutes indicative of the people of the American tropical rain forests.


Episode Info

Episode 17 - Jungle Lifestyle with Mickey Mittermeier

We are going to meet an impressive young man today, Mickey Mittermeier.  Mick is a 20 year old college student who has already traveled to 64 countries(!) and mostly to tropical regions in pursuit of endangered exotic animals - special places known as Biodiversity Hotspots. These safaris included Australia, Indonesia, Estonia, Finland, Surinam, East Africa, Madagascar and many, many others. He has had this wonderful opportunity because his father is the noted primatologist and president of Conservation International, Dr. Russ Mittermeier. While his natural scientist father has been away from home most of his youth, Mick often went with his father on surveys of endangered species. As  you will  hear, Mick credits his Dad for his adventurous spirit, love of the wild, his scientific curiosity and his love for…TARZAN.


Episode Info

Episode 16 - Rainforest Conservation with David Seaborg Part 2

Evolutionary biologist and President David Seaborg, of the World Rainforest Fund, joins us for a conversation about some details of the benefits of healthy tropical rain forests and the costs of rainforest destruction. We discuss the role of climate change, the impact on biodiversity, and ways forward to preserve rain forests.


Episode Info

Episode 15 - Rainforest Conservation with David Seaborg

Evolutionary biologist and President David Seaborg, of the World Rainforest Fund, joins us for a conversation about some details of the benefits of healthy tropical rain forests and the costs of rainforest destruction. We discuss the role of climate change, the impact on biodiversity, and ways forward to preserve rain forests.


Episode Info

Episode 14 - Sumatran Tigers with Stephanie Arne

Our Field Correspondent, Stephanie Arne, from the Honolulu Zoo, joins us for a conversation about Sumatran Tigers. These large, beautiful carnivores exist at the top of the food chain. The island of Sumatra is the only place where tigers, rhinos, orangutans and elephants live together and the presence of the Sumatran tiger is an important indicator of biodiversity in that forest. Protecting tigers and their habitat means many other species benefit—including humans. However, tigers suffer near extinction due primarily to habitat loss and poaching. Most of the lush tropical rain forests, over 80%, on Sumatra have been destroyed by logging and Oil Palm plantations.  


Episode Info

Episode 13 - Tarzan with Bill Hillman

Today's conversation is with the man at the center of an absolutely huge website about the originator of the Tarzan character, Edgar Rice Burroughs. The creator and webmaster of this site is Bill Hillman. Bill is a professor, a musician, an expert on all things Tarzan, and an all-around great guy. His site is called erbzine.com. Bill took some time out of his busy day to have a conversation with us on Jungle Deep. We talk about ER Burroughs life story, the many Tarzan books, how Tarzan influenced conservationist of today, and current events to commemorate Tarzan's 100th birthday.


Episode Info

Episode 12 - Volunteer Tourism & Jungle Exploration

Let's explore Volunteer Tourism in the tropical rain forests.  For those that don't know, that's when you volunteer to work for free on your vacation for some non-profit in a far-away dangerous corner of a jungle in the middle of nowhere!  Why would you do that?

That's adventure, baby!  Today we are going to have a conversation with a young man, 24 years old, who has done it - not once, but four times now!   We are going to meet Jungle Adventurer and filmmaker, Adam Spencer, who has traveled to the South American tropics - trips that include the Galapagos Islands, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Costa Rica.  Adam currently has the production of a film underway about the Volunteer Tourism experience, called Volunteer Traveler: Costa Rica.


Episode Info

Episode 11 - Bananas and the San Diego Zoo

Kelly Patterson, our exclusive field correspondent for Food & Drink reports on Bananas and Rick Schwartz, Senior Keeper and Global Ambassador for the San Diego Zoo discusses zoo history and organization. Further, we discuss the state of rain forest destruction and preservation efforts throughout the world. 


Episode Info

Episode 10 - Conservation International with Dr. Russ Mittermeier

Hello, this is your host, Dr. Jones.  Thank you for joining me.  I have a real treat for you today.  Just a couple of episodes back, I commented on the fact that a prominent conservationist and life-long rainforest expert, and president of Conservation International, commented online about the importance of the influence of Tarzan in his choice of career. His name is Dr. Russ Mittermeier. Well, when Dr. Mittermeier heard we were talking about him on Jungle Deep, and were seeking his audience, he wanted to join in.  Of course he did! 


Episode Info

Episode 9 - The Merchandising of Tarzan

Take a look inside the company charged with protecting and promoting the Tarzan character, Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. President Jim Sullos, discusses copyrights and trademarks, Tarzan events, books, comics, and movies. Learn about what is coming up in the world of Tarzan. Tarzan the Eco-Warrior? Jane with an iPod? Little known story and character points are revealed. Much fun!


Episode Info

Episode 8 - Orangutans Part 2

Dr. Jones continues his discussion with Stephanie Arne, our zoo and wildlife Field Corespondent, of Orangutans at the Honolulu Zoo, Rusti and Violet.  Also, Kelly Patterson, our exclusive exotic food and drink correspondent, reports on chocolate, with recipes, including a cocktail she invented, 'Tarzan's Love Call'


Episode Info

Episode 7 - Orangutans

Stephanie Arne from the Honolulu Zoo discusses general aspects of Orangutans in the wilds of Borneo and Sumatra, their diet, habitat, and behaviors. Also discussion with Dr. Jones about causes of rainforest destruction in their part of the world and what we can do about it.


Episode Info

Episode 6 - Tarzan's Anniversary, Upcoming Guests, African Music

Dr. Jones reviews recent activities for the Tarzan Centennial celebrations, including the guest of honor, Jane Goodall. Upcoming guests include:  TV and Hollywood movie Tarzans, and Tree Walkers International to discuss world-wide amphibian extinctions. In honor of Tarzan's anniversary, Dr. Jones offers a selection of African music.


Episode Info

Episode 5 - Tarzan, Lord of the Louisiana Jungle

Dr. Jones explores the world of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. Tarzan is the most famous character associated with the jungle. He was the creation of the famous adventure author, Edgar Rice Burroughs. Not counting all the books, nearly 90 movies and 6 TV shows have been produced about Tarzan in the nearly 100 years since he first appeared on the silver screen. That's an amazing average of about 1 per year for 100 consecutive years! It is hard to think of any other character in the history of the movies that has received that much attention!

While in other episodes we are going to be learning about the science of the real jungles of today, and talking with some modern explorers, in this episode we are going back in time to take a look at how people perceived the jungles 100 years ago, through the focusing lens of Tarzan. To take us on this particular safari, we have as our guide, a leading expert on Tarzan, and producer of a new documentary about Tarzan's very first movie. His name is Al Bohl. Al''s new documentary is called, "Tarzan, Lord of the Louisiana Jungle", about the historic Tarzan silent movie blockbuster made in 1918.


Episode Info

Episode 4 - Interview with the Queen of Tiki Kitsch

Actress Kelly Patterson has established herself online as the queen of party planning, party food and cocktails for the Tiki crowd.  Her internet TV show is called the Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en produced together with her videographer husband, Paul Spencer.  Kelly brings to mind the comedienne Carol Burnett, and mixes together a fun and funny look at 1950s culture with serious recipes and tips for entertaining.  Nearly 50 two to three minute videos can be viewed on their website or watched through iTunes.  Detailed sets, vintage clothes, novel cocktail recipes, fun food and quirky advice entertains while it inspires.  Kelly joins us on Jungle Deep.  After watching the Velveteen Lounge Kitsch-en you will be ready to throw your own jungle party, or suffer a back-to-the-future hangover.


Episode Info

Episode 3 - DigiTiki and his Quiet Village

Veteran podcaster, webmaster, and musician Mark Riddle, known online as DigiTiki, and known on-stage as Marty Lush, visits Jungle Deep to help us explore the world of Tiki music. 

Mark performs regularly as a member of the Tikiyaki Orchestra as vibraphonist, has several albums with the orchestra, and has appeared on other albums.  He has produced nearly 50 podcast episodes over the past four years.  Mark shares with us four of his favorite Tiki tunes.


Episode Info

Episode 2 - Climate Change, Earth Summit

Rain forest destruction increases Climate Change. Listen to Dr. Jones' thoughts on the evolution of modern concerns about environmental issues, and our current Recession of Environmental Consciousness.


Episode Info

Episode 1 - Introduction to Jungle Deep

In this introductory episode of the series, we review the importance of the jungle through history and take a look at its importance in today’s world.


Episode Info