Nature, Nurture & Nonsense

This week on the pod, my sibs Tadiwa, Izwi & Mbiri join me to chat about how we can make conservation our own, whereever it is we may live or come from. We’re sharing our core safari memories from growing up in Zimbabwe — some more chaotic than you’d think — and revisiting key insights from my chat with Dr. Peter Lindsey last week's episode. We also dive into what diaspora communities can do to support conservation in their home countries, and explore what a more regional, culturally rooted

This week Rutendo chats with Dr. Peter Lindsey — a fellow Zimbabwean and Director of the Lion Recovery Fund Wildlife Conservation Network.Peter’s passion for African wildlife shines through every part of his story. From his early days as a conservancy apprentice in Zimbabwe to studying at Oxford and earning his PhD at the University of Pretoria, his career has taken him across 18 African countries and over 160 protected areas. His work — spanning predators from jackals and painted dogs to lions —

This week, it’s a sisters-only chat! Rutendo is joined by her sisters Tadiwa, Ishe, and Mbiri to talk all about art and nature — not just how nature inspires creativity, but how creativity can become a form of advocacy for the natural world.From painting and music to dance and filmmaking, the sisters explore how art helps us connect with, express, and protect what we love about the planet.They also reflect on last week’s inspiring conversation with Alicia Hayden, and how artists like her use their

Rutendo welcomes her very first guest, Alicia Hayden — an award-winning wildlife artist and creative conservationist. They talk about art, activism, and how creativity can connect people with nature, from childhood memories to favourite animated films and Alicia’s vision for inspiring conservation through art.Alicia works across multiple disciplines - film, writing and art - to tell stories about the natural world, using art as a powerful way to connect people with nature.Hosted by Rutendo

In this week’s episode, Rutendo and the siblings are talking all about pets! For many of us, our first relationship with nature begins with the animals we share our homes with. For our family, that’s meant many pets over the years—past and present.We chat about the difference between being a dog “parent” vs. a dog “owner,” the ups and downs of life with pets, and the lessons they’ve taught us. From memorable (and chaotic!) pet moments to the origin story of Chances the cat, we’ve got plenty of

Welcome to the very first episode of Nature, Nurture & Nonsense. Meet Dr. Rutendo Shackleton and her five siblings as they launch a podcast where family banter collides with the natural world. In this pilot episode, the Wazara Six — as they like to call themselves — introduce who they are, share what life was like under one roof, and reflect on the wild family adventures they either enjoyed or endured (depending on which sibling you ask). Expect laughter, stories, and a sprinkle of nonsense as

Nature, Nurture & Nonsense is a conservation podcast where family stories meet wildlife science. Hosted by Zimbabwean conservationist, Dr Rutendo Shackleton and her five siblings, it mixes wild childhood memories, expert guests, and laugh-out-loud moments to explore our personal connections to nature—without needing a science degree. It’s fun, genuine, and for everyone.