CheloniaCast Fund
CheloniaCast Fund

CheloniaCast

Welcome to the CheloniaCast podcast. Come join us and our guests (Watch | Listen) while we tackle topics as diverse and informative such as the rich science of Chelonian ecology, evolution, husbandry, conservation- or just discuss our simple love for turtles and herping adventures! We invite a wide range of guests from all turtle-related backgrounds because we strongly believe in helping turtles swim to the ears and hearts of everyone of every level and type of knowledge/ interest for turtles.

Bonded by a common burning passion for turtles, CheloniaCast is hosted by a team of young herpetologists and sponsored by theTurtleRoom. Be sure not to miss any upcoming episodes by subscribing to our channel and following us on Instagram.

In conjunction with the show, theTurtleRoom has set up the CheloniaCast Fund to support global research and conservation efforts. Near the end of each calendar year, the CheloniaCast Hosts and theTurtleRoom’s board will work together to select projects around the globe to receive the bulk of the year’s contributions to the fund (75%). The remaining 25% of donations to the CheloniaCast Fund will go toward theTurtleRoom’s general fund to support our conservation, research, and education programs.

The show is also available as audio-only (Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | iHeartRadio | RSS). Check out the rest of theTurtleRoom's website for more information about theTurtleRoom, conservation, education, and turtles of all kinds.

CheloniaCast Team

Michael Skibsted

Co-founder and Managing Director, CheloniaCast

Michael Skibsted, Co-founder and Managing Director, CheloniaCast - theTurtleRoom

Michael is currently a 3rd year undergraduate student at the University of Georgia majoring in Ecology and Biology. His interest in chelonians has taken him to over 38 states and six countries where he has conducted field work and presented at professional symposia on topics ranging from Texas spring turtle ecology, original research on California’s state-protected Southwestern Pond Turtle conducted with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, quantifying freshwater biodiversity in the Southeastern United States, and his search for creative ways to tackle conservation issues. Michael is an American Junior Academy of Sciences Fellow/Fellow in Residence, Udall Scholar, Stanford Scholar at the University of Georgia, Founders Fellow of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and has received numerous awards and grants for his research and endeavors.

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Jason Wills

Co-founder and Host, CheloniaCast

Jason Wills, Co-founder and Host, CheloniaCast - theTurtleRoom
    Jason graduated college with a biology degree in December of 2023. During his time as an undergrad, he worked as a student caretaker and as a page at his local library. He also volunteered at a raptor rehab and interned at the TSA's turtle survival center. Since graduating, he's been doing conservation corps work, wherein he's been able to learn about the importance and intricacies of maintaining workplace professionalism in complex social environments. In the future, Jason hopes to continue to explore alternative ways to fund his herp related antics while maybe knocking out a masters degree in the process.

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    Jack Thompson

    Co-founder and Host, CheloniaCast

    Jack Thompson, Co-founder and Host, CheloniaCast - theTurtleRoom
      Jack is currently an undergraduate student at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. He lives his life through the pursuit of turtles. While originally from Delaware, his passion for turtle research and conservation pushed him to pursue further education in northern Florida. Jack is an active part of numerous research organizations, including (but not limited to) the Santa Fe River Turtle Project, Turtle Conservancy, Moorcroft Conservation Foundation, and the Turtle Survival Alliance. His passion for turtles has led him as far as the Galápagos islands, his favorite place on earth. While Jack is passionate about all turtles, has a particular interest in Giant tortoises and megacephalic species. When he's not in the field, Jack can be found collecting/preparing deceased chelonian specimens, caring for captive turtles, reading, writing, weightlifting, fossil hunting, and searching for his next adventure. Jack would like his legacy to have a measurable positive impact on turtles. He feels indebted to them; since they provide such fulfillment to his life, he must fight for them to have a future in this world.

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      Wyatt Kiel

      Social Media Coordinator, tTR and Host, CheloniaCast

      Wyatt Kiel, Social Media Coordinator, tTR and Host, CheloniaCast - theTurtleRoom
        Wyatt Keil is a Social Media Coordinator for theTurtleRoom. He grew up on the Delmarva peninsula working with the Audubon Society as a camper and counselor for 10 years before setting his sights on turtles. He can also be found working with organizations such as the Turtle Conservancy and Santa Fe Turtle Research Group. Wyatt also sits on the board of directors for the Moorcroft Conservation Foundation and spends every day trying to make the world a better place for turtles and tortoises through networking, public outreach, and field research. Wyatt has a love for herpetological literature, museum specimens and photography and is pursuing an education in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Wyatt’s other passions include Birds, Marsupials, Fossils, and Fish, since joining the Cheloniacast in June of 2022 he has assisted as cohost and social media manager in his life goal of spreading the word on all things testudine.

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        Ken Wang

        Graphic Design and Assistant Editor, CheloniaCast

        Ken Wang, Graphic Design and Assistant Editor, CheloniaCast - theTurtleRoom
          Kenneth is currently a 4th year undergraduate student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He produces graphics and thumbnails for the CheloniaCast Podcast and has been involved in research ranging from biomechanics, morphological ecology, and evolutionary biology.

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          Ethan Hancock

          Lead Editor, CheloniaCast

          Ethan Hancock, Lead Editor, CheloniaCast - theTurtleRoom
            Ethan is the lead editor for CheloniaCast. He is a graduate from the University of Florida. He received his B.S. in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation in December 2024, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Ethan is originally from California, his passion for turtles grew once moving to Florida and became a part of the Santa Fe River Turtle Project (SFRTP). The SFRTP opened the door for Ethan to attain field based research. While he is fascinated with everything turtles, his favorites include softshells, box turtles, and kinosternids. Other activities Ethan enjoys are hiking, swimming, writing, bowling, and playing video games. Ethan main goal is to gain an understanding in turtle ecology and help educate people worldwide the importance of turtles.

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            Alex Mione

            Coordinator and Host, CheloniaCast

            Alex Mione, Coordinator and Host, CheloniaCast - theTurtleRoom
              Alex started out as an editor for CheloniaCast but has shifted focus towards assisting in preparing CheloniaCast episodes along with outlining future podcast goals. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in Natural Resource Conservation and now lives in Key Largo, Florida, working at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Alex is from Coconut Creek, Florida, near where he had his first formative experience involving turtles. While living in Gainesville, Florida for 8 years, Alex spent 6 of those years as a member of the Santa Fe River Turtle Project (SFRTP), working with the turtles of the Santa Fe River Basin, where he initially met the members of CheloniaCast and developed a friendship with them. Ultimately, Alex aims to attend graduate school to further heighten his ability to study turtles, where he hopes he can return to Gainesville and continue working with the SFRTP.

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              Paul Cuneo

              Copywriter, Editor, and Host, CheloniaCast

              Paul Cuneo, Copywriter, Editor, and Host, CheloniaCast - theTurtleRoom
                Paul is currently an undergraduate student at Syracuse University. He has been fiercely passionate about turtles for as long as he can remember. While primarily residing in the Northeastern United States, his hunger for turtles has brought him to 18 states and 5 countries. Paul regularly conducts fieldwork be it through organizations like Turtle Survival Alliance, USFW, or self-driven data collection. Paul has a particular fascination with Snapping Turtles, Northeastern Emydids, kinosternids, and the genus Graptemys. When he isn’t out in the field Paul enjoys reading up on turtles, writing, preparing and collecting preserved specimens, ice-fishing, hiking, division one rowing, lifting weights, arm-wrestling, and exploring any natural space. Paul’s overall goal is to continue to advocate for turtles and their conservation while being directly involved in their conservation and study.

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                Torsten Watkins

                Social Media Coordinator, CheloniaCast

                Torsten Watkins, Social Media Coordinator, CheloniaCast - theTurtleRoom
                  Torsten is an undergraduate at Central Washington University from Wenatchee, Washington. He is a 2022 Founder’s Fellow of the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles and spends much of his free time searching for, researching, or involving himself in some way with reptiles and amphibians. This passion has led him to projects like analysing the genetics of Olympic mountain populations of Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile), helping with local education about herpetology through organizations like the Chelan-Douglas county Land Trust, and helping write/create content for groups like the Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders.

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