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Episodes
Welcome to the Talking Bat podcast series from BatAbility Courses & Tuition. Every month we interview someone important, influential, inspirational or just darn right bat-tastic from the world of bats or from the wider world of ecology/natural history/conservation. These interviews are carried out in a relaxed, conversational style, as we dive deeper into the background of our amazing guests. To find out more about BatAbility visit: www.batability.co.uk To find out more about BatAbility Club visit: www.batability.co.uk/batability-club
Episodes

Oct 6, 2025
Oct 6, 2025
39 min
Dr Jonny Hanson is a Research Fellow at Queen's University (Belfast), an award-winning social entrepreneur, & an affiliate of the Snow Leopard Conservancy. His PhD research was centred on Snow leopard conservation. This, amongst other things, has lead to a short film (Snow Leopard Trail) about sharing landscapes with apex predators. The subject matter is of relevance to us here in Britain & Ireland, during a time when re-introduction of lynx is being discussed. The film is touring during late 2025 & 2026, with first showings at Queen's Film Theatre (22nd Oct 2025) & Clones Film Festival (23rd/26th Oct 2025)
Snow Leopard Trail - watch the teaser here
Living With Lynx - find out about the book here
Sep 30, 2025
Sep 30, 2025
19 min
Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to.
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/

Sep 16, 2025
Sep 16, 2025
57 min
An excellent interview with Simon Tonkin & Niki Williamson, the owners of Inglorious Bustards, based in Andalucia, Spain. During our chat we talk about, setting up their business, bird migration, eco-tourism, the trips they organise & the conservation work they are involved with in The Gambia.

Sep 8, 2025
Sep 8, 2025
55 min
During the Bat Conservation Trust's National Bat Conference (Dutham, Sept 2025) we had the pleasure of catching up with many old friends, & meeting some new ones. Here we have created a podcast which includes some of the many people we engaged with. Massive thanks to all, including the following podcast participants - in order of appearance, as follows:
Nigel Massen (Pelagic Publishing)
Steve Powell/Daniel Moonen (NHBS Ltd)
Oliver Devereux (Thomas Jacks Ltd)
Andrew Milner/Liat Wicks/Kate Volodarets (Thermal Vision Ecology)
Sarah Deans (Lotek UK Ltd)
Tiffany Jedrecka/Kate Denton (Nature Metrics)
Sam Davis (Reflex Cameras)
Josef Carlson (BioSonic, Sweden)
Andreia Correia da Costa (Bat Conservation Trust)
Carrie-Ann Coxon Illustrations
David Koller (Elekon AG - Switzerland)
Dilly Hoyt (Fox Mountain Glassworks)
Martin Bailey (Wildlife & Countryside Services / Poland Trips)
Paul Howden-Leach (Wildlife Acoustics)

Aug 29, 2025
Aug 29, 2025
43 min
Here we are delighted to be speaking with George Bemment about the recently published 'Bats & Ladders, Stories from the Real World of Bat Conservation'. George has been involved with mammals her whole working life, as a zookeeper for 5 years, before taking a zoology degree & then in 1988 joining a national bat conservation project. Professional & voluntary bat work has dominated her life. A mammalogist at heart, she has also taught as a part-time lecturer in mammalogy (Exeter University), sat on the Council of the Mammal Society, & is a founding member of the Devon Mammal Group
Aug 28, 2025
Aug 28, 2025
16 min
Every month Aileen Hendry (BatAbility Courses & Tuition) is joined by Neil Middleton to deliver a 'light-hearted' monthly update for our BatAbility Club members. We are sharing it here for the benefit of anyone who wishes to find out more about what we are up to.
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/

Aug 22, 2025
Aug 22, 2025
45 min
Anne Youngman was the Bat Conservation Trust’s (BCT) first Scottish Bat Officer from 2003 to 2017, & is very well known & respected within the bat community. This is her 4th time on Talking Bat, & on this occasion we focus on her latest challenge, this time to complete the 100 km St Cuthbert’s Way ultra-marathon. A challenge that could take >19 hours to complete. Did she do it? Find out here. Why? It’s all for charity \o/ in order to raise money for The Bat Conservation Trust.

Aug 15, 2025
Aug 15, 2025
33 min
A 'one off' special just for our podcast audience. Aileen Hendry interviews Neil Middleton about the recent Talking Bat milestones achieved: >100 episodes & >10,000 downloads.
^o^ A massive thanks to all of our amazing guests & all of our fabulous listeners. :-)
If you are not a Club member, but would like to know more about how to join up, please go to the following link: batability.co.uk/batability-club/

Talking Bat
Neil Middleton & Guests
Hi, I'm Neil from BatAbility Courses & Tuition, and we are
delighted to be sharing here our Talking Bat interview series,
along with some other things that may pop up from time to time.
I hope you enjoy listening to what our guests have to say
as much as I enjoy talking with them ^o^
To find out more about BatAbility please visit:
www.batability.co.uk
If you have any requests for future guests on
Talking Bat please feel free to email me:
neil.middleton@batability.co.uk
