x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats

Joe and Dr. Jeff

Joe and Dr. Jeff discuss all things related to Zoo and Aquarium Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems. Everything from water treatment equipment and design to operations and construction. We talk to operators, engineers, architects, curators, and anyone and everyone who works on keeping our zoo and aquarium water clean, our animals healthy, our exhibits natural and our systems sustainable.

science natural sciences

All Episodes

43:38

Ep 42 - Keeping the Flow: Tori Sipos on the Critical...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/04/16

In this episode of Inflow, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber welcome Tori Sipos, the Facilities & Maintenance Manager at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Tori shares her journey through the industry, moving from hands-on technician roles at the Georgia Aquarium to leading the broader facilities team at a premier zoo and garden. We explore the transition from "turning wrenches" on life support systems to managing the high-level logistics of an entire facility's infrastructure. Tori provides a unique

en-us

50:29

Ep 41 - Bridging Science & Systems: Veronica Thompson...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/04/07

In this episode of Inflow, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Veronica Thompson, Manager of Water Quality and Life Support at the Houston Zoo. Veronica takes us through her fascinating career "arc," from her beginnings as a biologist studying algae under a microscope to managing some of the most sophisticated aquatic systems in the country. We dive deep into the operational realities of transitioning from world-class aquariums like Mystic Aquarium and The Florida Aquarium to the

en-us

54:59

Ep 40 - Managing Megascale: The Logistics of...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/03/30

When you move from a small "jewel tank" to a multimillion-gallon habitat, the rules of life support change. In this episode of Inflow, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber dive into the world of megascale aquatic systems with industry veteran Steve Kaiser. Steve shares his extensive experience managing some of the largest aquarium systems in the world. The conversation explores the unique physics of massive water volumes, where the luxury of "dilution as a solution" meets the intense challenge

en-us

01:03:55

Ep 39 - From Concept to Commissioning: Ray Davis on...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/03/23

Is life support systems (LSS) a science, a trade, or an art? According to industry veteran Ray Davis, it's a delicate balance of all three; driven by curiosity and critical thinking. In this episode of Inflow, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Ray to discuss the "human element" of aquatic habitat management. With a career that spans design, engineering, and hands-on operations, Ray shares why the most successful exhibits aren't just built with the best hardware, but through deep

en-us

52:08

Ep 38 - Building for Longevity: Strategic Life...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/03/16

Success in aquatic animal care isn't just about water chemistry—it's about the "bricks and mortar" that hold everything together. In this episode of Inflow, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with industry veteran Steve File, a long-standing leader and former board member of AALSO. With decades of experience in facility operations and life support systems (LSS), Steve shares his perspective on why the LSS field is broadening to include everything from HVAC and electrical systems to

en-us

39:47

Inside the AZFA: Design, Environment and Aquatic...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/02/28

What happens when the worlds of facility management and life support systems (LSS) collide? In this special episode of Inflow, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber take the show on the road to the Aquarium and Zoo Facilities Association (AZFA) conference to explore the critical infrastructure that keeps aquatic habitats thriving. While LSS operators often focus on water chemistry and filtration, the AZFA community handles the "bricks and mortar", from roofing and HVAC to the structural integrity

en-us

48:26

Ep 36 - The Operator's Mindset: Denitrification,...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/02/14

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber are joined by Andy Aiken, Director of Life Support Programs at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, for a practical, operations-first conversation on designing and running aquarium life support systems (LSS) that truly work in the real world. Andy shares decades of hands-on experience managing complex aquatic systems and explains why successful LSS design must start with the

en-us

50:18

Ep 35 - Navigating Aquatic Life Support: Insights...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/01/30

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber welcome Todd Devlin-Perry, President of AALSO and Life Support Manager at Mystic Aquarium, for a deep dive into modern aquarium operations, workforce development, and the future of aquatic life support systems (LSS). Todd shares his journey from plumbing and pool construction to managing 2.4 million gallons of synthetic seawater at one of the country's leading aquariums. The

en-us

51:13

Ep 34 - Aquarists as Life Support Operators:...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/01/23

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber welcome Trevor Erdmann, Vice President of AALSO and Senior Aquarist at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, for an in-depth conversation on the evolving role of aquarists as life support system (LSS) operators. Trevor shares how modern aquarists are increasingly responsible for water quality, filtration, system troubleshooting, and operational decision-making, blurring the lines

en-us

51:35

Ep 33 - From Submarines to Aquariums: Joe Poniatowski...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2026/01/16

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Joe Poniatowski of Asahi/America for a deep, experience-driven conversation on life support systems (LSS) design, operations, and reliability. Joe shares a unique career journey that spans submarine systems, industrial piping, and public aquariums, offering rare insight into what happens when systems fail—and how smart design choices can prevent it. The discussion

en-us

43:35

Ep 32 - Designing at Scale: Lessons from...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/12/30

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber are joined by Joe Choromanski, President of Serviette, for a wide-ranging conversation on what it takes to design, operate, and scale aquarium life support systems (LSS) across multiple facilities. Drawing on decades of experience in public aquariums, Joe shares lessons learned from overseeing large, complex aquatic systems, comparing artificial and natural seawater, and adapting LSS

en-us

52:30

Ep 31 - Lighting, Air, and Water: Rethinking Life...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/12/19

In this episode of the INFLOW podcast, we explore how modern Life Support Systems (LSS) go far beyond filtration and plumbing. Joined by Gal Judah, Area Sales Manager at Georg Fischer, the conversation dives into the evolving role of LSS in zoos, aquariums, and aquatic facilities—where lighting, air quality, controls, and integrated infrastructure are just as critical as water. Gal shares his unique path into the LSS world through the skilled trades, offering insight into how electrical systems,

en-us

47:15

Ep 30 - LSS at Scale: Leading the Singapore...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/12/05

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Mike Bajek, Senior Director of Life Support Systems at the Singapore Oceanarium, to explore what it takes to design, manage, and scale one of the largest and most advanced aquarium facilities in the world. Mike shares his journey from Pittsburgh to Singapore and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the engineering, innovation, and leadership required to support massive

en-us

46:37

Ep 29 - Finding the Right Fit: Hiring in the Aquatic...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/11/21

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber talk with Mark Peacock, founder of Clean Search, to explore the unique world of hiring, recruitment, and talent development within the aquatic life support systems (LSS) industry. Mark breaks down what makes LSS roles so specialized, why organizations struggle to find qualified candidates, and how the right recruitment strategy can transform zoos, aquariums, and aquatic facilities

en-us

51:49

Ep 28 - Facility Spolight: Minnesota Zoo

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/10/31

In this Facility Spotlight episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber talk with Wes Schmidt, Senior Life Support Systems Technician at the Minnesota Zoo. Wes takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the most diverse and technically challenging facilities in the Midwest, where maintaining healthy aquatic environments means balancing complex life support systems (LSS), mechanical infrastructure, and Minnesota's extreme seasonal

en-us

46:17

Ep 27 - Where Architecture Meets Aquatic Life...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/10/24

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with John Christiansen, Senior Project Architect at EHDD Architecture, to explore how thoughtful design and engineering come together to create world-class aquariums and aquatic facilities. With decades of experience designing some of the most recognized and sustainable public aquariums, zoos, and research centers, John shares insights into how architecture, life support

en-us

48:50

Ep 26 - From Valves to Vision: Engineering the Future...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/10/18

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber welcome Nick Kaiser, Director of Facilities at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. With over two decades of experience—from operator to engineer to director—Nick shares his unique perspective on bridging life support operations, engineering design, and sustainability at one of the nation’s most iconic aquariums. The conversation dives into Shedd’s ongoing 95-year-old infrastructure

en-us

50:25

Ep 25 - Reinventing the Flow: From Aquaculture Roots...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/10/11

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber sit down with Sam Courtland, founder of Integrated Aqua Systems (IAS), to explore his journey from aquaculture operations to engineering advanced aquatic systems used in research, zoos, and public aquariums. Sam shares how his early experiences working on shrimp farms and recirculating aquaculture systems shaped his vision for modular design, water management, and innovation in the

en-us

51:09

Ep 24 - Ozone in LSS: Disinfection, Design, and Clean...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/09/26

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber are joined by Rob Turnbull, ozone specialist with Telchine Energy Technologies, to explore the critical role of ozone in aquatic life support systems (LSS). Rob breaks down how ozone works as a powerful disinfectant, its impact on water clarity and pathogen control, and why it’s essential for maintaining healthy environments in aquariums, zoos, and aquaculture systems. The

en-us

44:46

Ep 23 - Engineering Attractions: Hot Springs, Surf...

Inflow: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats ·

2025/09/19

In this episode of INFLOW: Aquatic Animal Life Support Systems and Habitats, hosts Joe Arlotto and Dr. Jeff Keaffaber talk with Rob Cloward and Allen Clawson of Cloward H2O, one of the world’s leading aquatic engineering firms. From natural hot springs and wave-generating surf parks to large-scale aquariums and zoos, Cloward H2O has been at the forefront of designing innovative water systems that blend recreation, sustainability, and animal care. Rob and Allen share insights into: The evolution of

en-us

43 results

Similar Podcasts

Classic Radio Science Fiction

solgoodmedia.com

Mission to Mars

Inception Point Ai

The 365 Days of Astronomy

365DaysOfAstronomy.org

Creek Devil

william Jevning

UFO Chronicles Podcast

Nik Hunter