815 - Gatorland with Savannah

 

• Jeff's Bagel Run sponsorship, including bagel flavors and custom cream cheese spreads (hot sauce cream cheese)
• Ordering via Jeff's Bagel Run app; also offers cookies and coffee
• Friday Free Show at Gatorland near Gator Lake with guest Savannah
• Savannah's social media popularity and frequent fan questions about Tom and Dan
• Moe Dewitt’s VIP program at Gatorland, Dan’s late arrival, and Christmas card photos
• Savannah’s career shift after leaving radio; moved to Cocoa Beach for son's skateboarding, worked at Rusty’s, surfed
• Unexpected passion for reptiles; childhood love for catching snakes and lizards
• Opportunity to join a snake and lizard TV show in California; spontaneous cross-country move
• Traveling to skate parks, hospitality from strangers, sleeping in the Jeep, pulled over by Texas State Troopers
• Flooded skate park in Mississippi; using a shotgun shell as a thimble to fix Jeep top
• Working at a reptile zoo in California; appeared on Conan O’Brien’s show, where a snake defecated on Conan’s desk
• Lack of female-led alligator/crocodile shows in media; pitching one without success
• Long effort to create a Gatorland-based show; struggles with industry gatekeeping
• Seven-year attempt to work at Gatorland; initial rejection, eventual surprise hiring
• Early struggles at Gatorland; coworkers refused to help, leading to solo content creation
• Transition from radio to YouTube; generational gap in media consumption
• Challenges in social media consistency, scheduling, and content planning
• Learning alligator safety; Savannah’s son skeptical of her expertise
• Gatorland’s 75-year history; Lamar the 13-14 foot alligator as a favorite
• Naming alligators after celebrities; Ryan Reynolds, Lightning, Metallica
• Alligator vs. crocodile behavior; social media clips of reckless interactions
• Gatorland rescues nuisance alligators from farms/hunting camps
• Savannah’s international Gatorland work (Belize, Australia, Jamaica, Mexico, Cuba)
• Couch-surfing upon return from California to land Gatorland job
• Spontaneous Cuba trip to find crocodile scientists with no Spanish skills, relying on a bird watcher’s help
• Running out of money, drinking unfiltered rainwater, bonding with locals
• Returning with Gatorland’s team to support Cuban crocodile program, forming Gatorland Global nonprofit
• Gatorland spans 125 acres, housing 2,000+ alligators and crocodiles; ranked zip-line attraction
• Tom feeding an alligator for the first time; hesitation in throwing food
• Maisie’s preference for pork; gators also preferring pork over chicken
• Introduction of aggressive gators disrupting feeding order; Gatorland’s discipline method
• Alligator growth slowing with age but continuing for life
• Alligators can survive two years without eating; Gatorland provides a "bougie" life
• Feeding wild gators makes them nuisances, leading to relocation
• Gators recognize trainers and social hierarchy; some respond to commands, others don't
• Leucistic alligators at Gatorland, their rarity, and special care needs
• Jawlene, the rescued alligator missing her top jaw; viral rescue story
• Learning to eat despite injury; media attention making her more famous than theme park mascots
• Jawlene estimated to be five years old but small due to malnutrition
• Attempts to fit her with a prosthetic jaw; wouldn’t be functional long-term
• Public perception of dangerous animals vs. cute ones in conservation efforts
• Shark vs. alligator fear; media’s role in misrepresenting threats
• Savannah camping at Gatorland, almost dragged into water by a Nile crocodile
• Gatorland’s train ride, swamp buggy, and exotic bird rescue
• Meeting Felix th