Wood Fired Herping

Wood Fired Herping is a podcast about herping, life outdoors, and the food that brings it all together. Hosted by chef, photographer, and lifelong herper Zeev Nitzan Ginsburg, it blends field herping adventures with deep conversations, wild landscapes, and meals cooked with purpose.

Equal parts storytelling and campfire chatter, this show is for anyone who’s ever successfully chased a snake through the thorny underbrush, pulled off the highway for a promising stretch of habitat only to find nothing at all, or cooked something that made the whole day worth it anyway.

At its heart, Wood Fired Herping is about intersections: wild and quiet, instinct and ritual, science and soul.

Contributors

Host

Zeev Nitzan Ginsburg

Zeev Nitzan Ginsburg is a writer, field herpetologist, wildlife photographer and chef, who has spent years cooking at the top of the restaurant world. From catering the Oscars with Wolfgang Puck, working in the top fine-dining kitchens, to being on the opening team of LA’s hottest Vegan restaurant and running a meal delivery service during the pandemic, Zeev has had experience throughout the industry.

In the fleeting time off from cooking, Zeev takes any chance he gets to be out in nature, chasing down and photographing all manner of incredible creatures. He started herping in India at the age of 6, where over the years he was involved in both the field and professional herpetology settings and has since herped on three continents and more environments that one can count. His photography is featured in three herp books. Zeev is the editor-in-chief of WeHerp., a herpetology focused media platform and magazine.

Guests

Guest

Kyle Elmore

Kyle Elmore, better known as PopMilk Herping, has become one of the most recognizable names in Texas field herping - equal parts meticulous, ethical, and deeply passionate about the craft.

https://www.youtube.com/@PopMilk

Guest appearance on:

Kyle Elmore - Tin Stacks, Popping Milks, and Houston Eats

Guest

Marisa Ishimatsu

Marisa Ishimatsu is a biologist and wildlife photographer based in California, specializing in reptiles, amphibians, and the biodiversity of her home state. Through her photography studio, StonePine Studios, she documents wild animals in their natural habitats around the world, combining scientific precision with artistic perspective. Marisa works as a biological consultant and has spent time in the field across more than a dozen countries, including Peru, Namibia, Malaysia, and Japan. Her work bridges biology and art, using photography to tell stories of overlooked species and the ecosystems that sustain them.

https://www.stonepinestudios.com/

Guest appearance on:

Marisa Ishimatsu — Herp Photography, AI, and Melted M&M’s

Guest

Robert Hansen

Robert Hansen is a herpetologist, author, and educator based in California, best known as the long-time editor of Herpetological Review and co-author of the key field guide California Amphibians and Reptiles, by Jackson D. Shedd and Robert Hansen.

With decades of experience studying and documenting the herpetofauna of the American West, Hansen has combined a lifetime of fieldwork with a deep commitment to clear, accessible science communication. His work continues to shape how researchers, educators, and field herpers connect with reptiles and amphibians across the region.

https://press.princeton.edu/our-authors/hansen-robert

Guest appearance on:

Robert Hansen – Field Guides, Herp Review, and Cooking Alpine Trout