About Me
“I have a message for my fans. Whatever you want to do in this world, it is achievable. The most important thing that I've found, that perhaps you could use, is be passionate and enthusiastic in the direction that you choose in life, and you'll be a winner.”
-Steve Irwin
Who am I outside of work?
To some, it may seem weird to kick off an “about me” page with a quote from Steve Irwin. But for those who really know me, you know that Steve Irwin is an integral part of my life. While other kids woke up on Saturday to watch cartoons, I was on the couch clutching my iguana Webkinz watching Crocodile Hunter episodes.
When Steve Irwin died, I carried a photo of him around school for a week. That photo (an autographed photo I got from being in his fan club when I was 7 years old), still sits above my desk every day – reminding me of my roots: kindness, passion, and a relentless pursuit to bring positivity to the world.
Passion Projects
Female Herpers and Reptile Keepers Community
In 2020, I noticed there was a large gap in the online reptile community - women make up a large percentage of the hobby but their voices were constantly being shut down in more public spaces. Noticing this, and experiencing it myself, I started a Facebook community for my female and nonbinary friends who were animal/reptile enthusiasts. What I thought would just be a small group (I was hoping for maybe 100 people to join) as a place to share information and connect, has turned into a community growing at over 100 new members a month for the last 6 years. ​
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Though I've taken a step back from the day to day management of the group, the lessons I learned from building this community are carried with me in my experiences - even when there are no scaly friends in the vicinity.
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By the Numbers
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32,000+ members
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500+ new posts per month
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13 Group Moderators & Admins
Modern Medusa Podcast
Host & Producer
In addition to building the Facebook community, I knew that there were stories for female and non-binary individuals in the reptile and animal hobbies that needed to be shared. For two years I recorded and produced regular podcasts highlighting these individuals.
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As a one-woman team, I had to manage the sourcing of new guests, preparing for all the interviews, and editing and producing them on a regular basis. Knowing there was a gap in the industry, I used my niche as a way to connect with some incredible individuals. From private animal keepers to field researchers to National Geographic Photographers, my guest list was as diverse and interesting as the animals for which we all shared a passion.
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By the Numbers:
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32 Episodes
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90 minute average run time
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~1,000 listeners per episode (not too shabby for a pretty niche show if you ask me!)