Can I Run Something By You? is a conversation at the crossroads of life, nature, and the human experience. Hosted by Stephanie Adams-Hawkins- an anthropology major, zoo keeper, naturalist, and widowed mother of two feral boys. The show blends personal storytelling, big questions, and field notes from the wild-whether that's working with animals, traveling to places like Botswana, raising kids, or navigating the messy beautiful choices of every dayday life. This podcast examines the intersection of humans and nature.
Each episode is an invitation to pause under the proverbial tree, share stories, and explore how we find meaning in the connections between people, animals, and the world around us. Sometimes it's intimate and reflective, sometimes it's playful, and sometimes it's raw-but it is always rooted in authenticity.
If you've ever thought, "I just need to run this by someone," this podcast is your place to listen in and join the conversation.
In this episode, I unpack what "no-kill" actually means-not as a slogan, but as a sytem shaped by time, space, law, and community responsibility. We talk about how shelters reach no-kill status, why foster programs matter so much, how intake laws shape what shelters can do, and why shelters often carry the weight of upstream failures. This is a conversation about animal welfare, shared responsibility, and what real progress actually requires. Can I Run Something By You? expl...
14 Oct 2025
So You Want to Be a Zookeeper
Ever wondered what it takes to become a zookeeper? In this episode, I share my own winding path into the field- a "figure-it-out-as-I-go" journey that isn't the one I would recommend today. From unexpected turns to lessons learned, I talk about what aspiring keepers can really expect (including how much of the job actually comes down to working well with people) plus a few honest tips for getting your foot in the door and thriving once you're in. Can I Run Something By You? explores ani...
25 Sept 2025
Conversations From Botswana: Meet Oné
What happens when a non-traditional older American student from Arizona State University and a University of Botswana student share a tent in the Okavango Delta? In this episode, I sit down with my tentmate, Oné, to relive our time together in the Botswana course and talk about her fascinating graduate research on elephants returning to the wild after being in managed care. From camp life laughs to conservation insights, this conversation captures the heart of what it means to connect across ...
2 Sept 2025
The Bonds We Carry: A Tribute to Sumatran Orangutan, Elok
This episode is different. It's personal. In this brief episode, I want to share the story of Elok, a Sumatran orangutan who changed my life. From the moment I first met him as an ornery 8 yr old juvenile, to the bond we built over the years, and the heartbreak of losing him too soon- Elok's story is one of love, loss, and what it means to form deep connections with animals. Along the way, I reflect on the paradox of working in animal care: being told not to project or anthropomorphize,...
1 Sept 2025
Bob Ingersoll: Chimpanzees, Advocacy, and the Life Behind Project Nim (Part 1)
In this first part of my conversation with Bob Ingersoll- longtime advocate, author, and central voice in the documentary, Project NIM- we talk about the role of home, friendship, and persistence in a life dedicated to chimpanzees and animal welfare. Bob reflects on his early days as a graduate student, the lasting impact of his graduate studies at the University of Oklahoma's Institute for Primate Studies in Norman, and the lasting impact of Project NIM on the broader conversation around res...
28 Aug 2025
Sister talk and Sea Lions: Heather's path to Seadog
In this episode, I sit down with my little sister, Heather, a sea lion trainer and founder of Seadog Animal Training in Houston. We dive into her journey from working with sea lions to launching her own full-service training and boarding business. Along the way we talk about what it's like to share a career path as sisters, how we support each other through tough cases and the realities of animal care, and why Heather is so passionate about helping both pets and their people. If you are in Ho...
20 Aug 2025
Can I run something by you?
Stop in and find out what we'll be getting up to and talking about. I can't wait to run something by you. Can I Run Something By You? explores animal welfare, conservation, and the systems we build around them.
20 Aug 2025
Botswana and the Okavango Delta
I recently returned from a field course to the Okavango Delta in Botswana as a study abroad course through Arizona State University. After 30 years post high school graduation I was set to finally take my last undergraduate class and make it to Africa. With more than 25 years in the animal field, this was going to be the ultimate way to complete my degree. But Botswana and this course changed everything. Can I Run Something By You? explores animal welfare, conservation, and the systems ...
20 Aug 2025
Feral Children and Questionable Parenting
After much consideration as to who I should first interview for the podcast it occurred to me that the perfect guests were currently leaving their fishing lures and muddy clothes all over my house. We currently have a pet snake at large somewhere in my home. We've all decided he'll show up eventually...but that is the crux of our existence. Tune in and meet my feral children. Can I Run Something By You? explores animal welfare, conservation, and the systems we build around them.
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