GUESTS: Deborah Nelson, Pultizer-winning writer of Mother Jones expose on Ringling circus

Deborah Nelson--the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter who wrote a major expose on the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey circus in the November/December issue of Mother Jones Magazine--outlines aspects of her 30-year journalism career, and what it means for that career and new projects she takes on to have won a Pulitzer. She also discusses why she chose to tackle an article on Ringling, and how lawsuits brought in recent years against Feld Entertainment (the corporation that operates Ringling) have unearthed a wealth of documents about the training and treatment of the animals, veterinary records and other information. Nelson addresses certain portions of her article, including how USDA officials, ostensibly charged with the responsibility of protecting Ringling animals, repeatedly failed to do so, often choosing not to pursue violations--that these and other things can be attributed to Ringling looming as a huge, wealthy, monolithic entity. She also speaks about the Ringling's powerful public relations machinery, how the circus consistently generates gobs of fawning media coverage in many markets it travels to, and more. (http://www.merrill.umd.edu/directory/deborah-nelson)

COMEDY CORNER: Louis CK's "Lions" (www.LouisCK.net)

MUSIC: Steve Martin And The Steep Canyon Rangers' "Rare Bird Alert," Samba Salad's "Bigi Kaiman," instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: King Crimson's "Elephant Talk"

GUEST: Bob Barker, retired host, "The Price Is Right" & philanthropist

Bob Barker--the retired host of "The Price Is Right" who, over the years, has underwritten a huge array of animal welfare organizations, projects and programs--discusses his lifelong love of animals and how this, combined with the wealth he accumulated over some 35 years of hosting "The Price Is Right," accounts for his large-scale philanthropy. He also addressed the philosophy behind his philanthropy, and the mechanics of how organizations can apply for financial assistance (particularly from his DJ&T Foundation for support of spay/neuter programs) and how he decides whom to help and on what level. He also comments on his association with Capt. Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, confirming the anecdote about how he ended up providing the $5 million in funds for the organization to purchase a new ship (now called the Bob Barker) to more effectively combat Japanese whaling. He also outlines his work on and support of The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, a new bill aimed at banning traveling circuses like Ringling Bros that use animals like elephants and tigers in their shows; and acknowledges his efforts to establish and underwrite the teaching of animal law at several of the nation's top law schools. (www.djtfoundation.org)

ALSO: Libby Boosalis, part of the "Talking Animals" family--regular listeners hear her acknowledged and thanked at the end of each show as the "Broadcast/Outreach Consultant"--discusses her decision to go vegan, starting this week. She addresses what led to the decision, the reaction from family and friends, and how the first few days have gone. We hope to periodically check in with her for updates.

COMEDY CORNER: Tom Shillue's "Animal Shows" (www.TomShillue.com)

MUSIC: eels' "Little Bird," Galactic's "Funky Bird," instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever"

GUEST: Dr. Denise Herzing, pioneering dolphin researcher

Dr. Denise Herzing--a pioneering researcher who has spent 27 summers in Bahamian waters studying Atlantic spotted dolphins: the Wild Dolphin Project, and author of "Dolphin Diaries: My 25 Years With Spotted Dolphins"--discusses various phases of her career, and her fascination with dolphins that began in childhood. She also recounts the influence Jane Goodall had on her career, as well as on the design and scope of the Wild Dolphin Project, and the importance of "etiquette" in the pursuit of a longterm study of wild animals. Dr. Herzing described Atlantic spotted dolphins, and some of the key traits that distinguish them from bottlenose dolphins, including that the former's spot patterns change as they age. She also explained various facets of what's increasingly become a key component of the Wild Dolphin Project: Fostering two-way communication between dolphins and humans, and addressing the implications of what such advances might mean. (www.WildDolphinProject.org, www.Facebook.com/Wild.Dolphin.Project)

ALSO: We had a brief conversation with Cyndy Sperber Doty, founder of Adopt A New Leash On Life, a new Facebook page devoted to matching up immediately-adoptable dogs Florida-wide with forever homes, drawing from rescues across the state, and underscoring the "DO NOT BUY" message. (www.facebook.com/AdoptANewLeashOnLife)

COMEDY CORNER: Eddie Izzard's "Talk To The Animals" (www.EddieIzzard.com)

MUSIC: Meg Hutchinson's "Seeing Stars," Ahmad Jamal Trio's "Dolphin Dance," instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Matthew Sweet's version of "Flipper"

GUEST: Dr. Dani McVety, hospice veterinarian

Dr. Dani McVety--a Lutz-based veterinarian specializing in hospice care and euthanasia, whose practice is called Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice--discusses her background, how her veterinary school training and initial work as an emergency medicine vet prompted her to start her hospice practice. Noting that there's typically little or no hospice curriculum at vet school, Dr. McVety observes that the field is relatively new. She contrasts the way an ailing animal--and its humans--could expect to be treated and counseled by a hospice veterinarian versus a more conventional scenario with full-practice vets at their office or an animal hospital. She also explains the main questions and concerns she hears from new clients, noting that the vast bulk of her practice currently involves responding to requests for in-home euthanasia of a family pet, while hoping to expand the hospice portion of the practice. She also describes the emotional challenges presented by performing this sort of work every day, and the strategies she's developed to minimize that impact. (www.LapOfLove.com, www.Facebook.com/lapoflove)

ALSO: We had another brief conversation with Libby Boosalis, our friend and "Talking Animals" family member who, in early January, decided to go vegan. We spoke with her on the Jan. 11 show, when she was just a few days into the conversion, and today we got an update on how it's going in this latest installment in our periodic series we've dubbed "The Vegan Chronicles."

COMEDY CORNER: Steven Wright's "Ants" (snippet)

MUSIC: Joe Montgomery's "Cool Cat," Ryan Montbleau Band's "Songbird," instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Elton John's "Crocodile Rock"

GUEST: Nathan Winograd, No Kill expert & Advocate

Nathan Winograd--a nationally-known author, speaker and founder-executive director of the No Kill Advocacy Center, slated to speak on No Kill at a Tampa conference entitled "Save 90" (so-called because studies indicate that 90% of animals entering shelters are healthy and adoptable)--discusses his background, veering from Stanford Law School grad and former criminal prosecutor and corporate attorney into working as Director of Operations for the San Francisco SPCA. He recounts that in taking that job, he had little background and no experience in sheltering, which he believes proved to be a virtue in shifting that facility dramatically toward No Kill, the early phase of carving a pioneering path in that realm. He also addresses what underlies the passionate positions on both side of the No Kill issue--he opines that No Kill is not a polarizing issue, but it would certainly appear to be, just as Winograd seems to be a polarizing figures. He also notes some of the elements necessary--on both a practical and cultural level--to shift a shelter toward a No Kill operation. And more.... (www.NathanWinograd.com, www.NoKillAdvocacyCenter.org, www.Save90.org)

ALSO: RWe spoke briefly with Jamie Buehrle, wife of new Miami Marlins all-star pitcher Mark Buehrle, about their family's experience with a breed discrimination law against pit bulls in Miami-Dade County--they have four dogs, including a pit bull, Slater, which meant they couldn't have moved to Miami with Slater. So they bought their home in a different county, Broward, and have advocated for repealing the law in Miami Dade. (http://www.change.org/petitions/help-slater-buehrle-save-pets-in-miami-end-the-pit-bull-ban

COMEDY CORNER: Todd Glass' "Biting A Puppy" (snippet) www.ToddGlass.com

MUSIC:J.J. Cale's version of' "Old Blue," instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Los Lobos' "Will The Wolf Survive"

GUEST: Karen Atwood, of Florida Parrot Rescue

Karen Atwood--Senior West Coast Vice President and Southwest Coast Foster Coordinator for Florida Parrot Rescue--discusses the founding and evolution of Florida Parrot Rescue (earlier called Tampa Bay Parrot Rescue), and how her own involvement began. She also addressed the organization's educational emphases--highlighting the rewards and challenges of living with birds, including traits unique to parrots, such as life spans for some of upwards of 80 years, or their vocalizing which can be a real issue particularly for those unprepared for the "noise." Atwood explained the importance of fostering, including how it can help modify a bird's behavior and boost its adoption prospects, pointing to Stevie--a bird she herself is currently fostering, and brought into the studio for the interview--as an example: he came out of a bird hoarding case in Orlando and, related to that, was very vocal and loud when he arrived in Atwood's home. But she and her family have reacted (or, more to the point, not reacted) to Stevie's vocalizations in such a way that they've become quieter and less frequent. She also outlined the Florida Parrot Rescue adoption procedure, noted their long-term hope to create an accompanying avian sanctuary, and briefly commented on parrot mills. (www.FloridaParrotRescue.com, www.Facebook.com/FLParrotRescue)

COMEDY CORNER: Dave Attell's "Parrot" (www.DaveAttell.com)

MUSIC: Sharon Van Etten's "Serpents," Mike Doughty's "Year Of The Dog," instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Stray Cats' "Stray Cat Strut"