After more than 150 episodes of Snake Talk, Dr. Chris Jenkins takes a seat on the other side of the microphone for one final conversation.

In this special farewell episode, Tracy Karplus, Director of Communication at The Orianne Society and longtime producer of the Snake Talk Podcast, asks the questions as Chris reflects on the journey that shaped his career and lifelong passion for reptile and amphibian conservation. From a childhood fascination with snakes to his education, early field experiences, and the path that led him to co-found The Orianne Society, Chris shares the stories behind a life dedicated to conservation.

Whether you've been listening since the beginning or are discovering Snake Talk for the first time, this episode offers a fitting conclusion to Chris's remarkable journey, and a reminder of the message that has closed every episode:

"Snakes are animals too, and it's a privilege to see one in the wild."

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

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If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with legendary herpetologist Romulus Whitaker to explore a life that has been anything but ordinary. Raised in the United States, educated in India, and mentored by famed snake handler Bill Haast, Rom followed his passion for reptiles across continents and cultures before returning to India to help transform wildlife conservation in the country.

Over the past five decades, Rom has founded and helped build some of India’s most influential conservation organizations, including a snake park, a crocodile conservation center, and a pioneering venom extraction program operated by members of a local Indigenous community. Along the way, he has handled countless snakes and crocodiles, survived remarkable adventures, and played a central role in changing how people view and conserve reptiles.

Read Rom’s biography, and be sure to check out The Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, The Agumbe Rainforest Research Station, The King Cobra Conservancy, and the Global Snakebite Initiative.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.

Romey Swanson spent his childhood bringing frogs and snakes home in his pockets. Years later, that fascination with wildlife led him on an ambitious quest across Texas: to find as many reptile and amphibian species as possible in a single “big year.”

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins sits down with Romey, Executive Director of the Devils River Conservancy, to discuss his journey from wildlife-obsessed kid to conservation leader. Inspired by the birding world’s legendary “big year” competitions, Romey set out to document all 230-plus species of reptiles and amphibians in Texas, taking him deep into deserts, swamps, rivers, and backroads across the state. By the end of the effort, he had documented an astonishing 177 species, more than 30 above the previous known record! They also discuss the Devils River Conservancy and the effort to conserve hundreds of thousands of acres within one of Texas’s most ecologically important watersheds.

Connect with Romey at the Devils River Conservancy.

Connect with Chris on Facebook, Instagram or at The Orianne Society.

Shop Snake Talk merch.

If you like what you’ve been hearing on this podcast, consider supporting The Orianne Society today.