Podcast Summary

This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Episode #613: Forrest Galante (September 27, 2025)

Main Theme & Purpose

Theo Von sits down with wildlife biologist and adventure television host Forrest Galante. The episode dives into Forrest’s wild upbringing on a Zimbabwean safari farm, his family's tumultuous experience during Zimbabwe’s land reform, his transition to wildlife conservation in America, and his unique career re-discovering species thought extinct or lost, as well as his work on "Animals on Drugs". The conversation touches equally on Galante’s riveting life stories, the quirks of animal behavior, existential queries about humanity’s role on earth, and the strange intersections where animals and humans collide.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Forrest’s Childhood in Zimbabwe: Living Among Wildlife and Conflict

• Life on Safari Farms
  • Grew up on farms and safari camps, always around wild animals.
  • Early exposure to snakes, jackals, and the realities of the African "bush".
  • "I grew up...kick my shoes off, run out on the farm, try and catch snakes or be looking for jackals." (03:00 - Forrest)
• Early Sense of Conservation
  • As a boy, Forrest witnessed wildlife decline: fewer elephants, encroachment by people, and loss of habitat.
  • "As you fall in love with something, you want to protect it, and that's conservation." (04:46 - Forrest)
• Zimbabwe Land Reform Turmoil
  • Family lost their land in violent, racially-charged government seizures in the early 2000s.
  • "Saw neighbors get murdered...indoctrination through torture...crazy war chants, shootouts, everything." (08:03 - Forrest)
  • Vivid account of being forced to leave at gunpoint; his mother's calm saved his life.

Notable Quotes

• "My best friend, who had been my best friend since we were seven...I was like, why are we getting split up? And they're like, we're having a fight, black versus white at school." (10:09 - Forrest)
• “It was an incredible childhood. There were just a couple rough years there.” (08:59 - Forrest)

2. Cross-Cultural Nature: Adapting to the US, Finding Wildness, and Wildlife Conservation

• From Zimbabwe to America:
  • Arrival in Oakland was culture shock—went from "freedom" to feeling "trapped".
  • Found solace in the wilder parts of California, diving, surfing, and fishing to feel connected to nature again.
• Wildlife Biology as a Career:
  • Chose biology since "there's no safari guide in Central California," merging hands-on animal work with science.
• Theme: Reconnection with the wild fosters resilience and a sense of purpose.

Notable Quotes

• "Wildlife and rugby are the only two things I've ever really cared about." (27:05 - Forrest)
• "It's such a grounding thing, Theo. It makes you so connected to the planet." (38:57 - Forrest)

3. Stories from the Field: Dangerous Animals, Lost Species, and ‘Animals on Drugs’

A. Wild Animal Encounters

• Hippos in Colombia:
  • Adventure stories of chemically castrating Pablo Escobar’s invasive hippos to try and curb population growth.
  • Dangerous and adrenaline-fueled work: "It's high adrenaline...the hippo's trying to kill you...you're racing the clock before the sun comes up." (35:55 - Forrest)
• Deadliest Snake Encounters:
  • Coastal taipan in Australia: "The snake literally licks the side of my neck, starts crawling over my neck...one bite, I was 14 hours from a hospital." (51:10 - Forrest)
  • Fer-de-lance in Costa Rica: Nearly bit while "showing off to the camera" (55:41). A reminder of how "complacency kills."

Notable Quotes

• "Every time that I've really felt threatened...it's because humans are so unpredictable." (59:22 - Forrest)
• "If I kill a hippo giving surgery, my career's over...I'm canceled across everything." (36:12 - Forrest)

B. ‘Animals on Drugs’ - HBO Max Series

• Focuses on how animals worldwide are getting into human substances (meth gator, cocaine hippos, etc.).
• Explains real human/animal conflict through humor and spectacle: “You don’t get people to watch a show called Human Wildlife Conflict, but you do get them to watch a show called Meth Gator.” (29:18 - Forrest)

C. Conservation, Extinction & Rediscovery

• Successes from his series ‘Extinct or Alive’: rediscovered animals thought lost to science (e.g., Fernandina tortoise).
• On extinction: It's often declared too soon; we too quickly “give up” on species.
• "I think it's super arrogant for humans to come in and go, 'that's extinct.'" (67:21 - Forrest)
• ~3,000 species (mostly plants, but 500–700 animals) estimated to go extinct per year. Many die before they're even discovered.

4. Humans, the Natural World, and Responsibility

• Philosophical discussion on whether humans are "supposed" to be here, or if we're more like a runaway infestation.
• Argues for a shift from seeing ourselves as takers to “docents” (guardians) of Earth.
• Cautions against self-righteous environmental shaming, advocates for small, practical choices.
  • “Don't be preachy—just care a little bit.” (77:25 - Forrest)
• Praises individual passion as a real driver for change—e.g., Mr. Beast’s clean water initiative for 2 million people.

Notable Quotes

• “No organization, government body, NGO is going to have the passion and the drive of an individual.” (80:13 - Forrest)
• "With great power comes great responsibility...We need to be responsible for the planet." (76:06 - Forrest)

5. De-Extinction and the Future

• Works with Colossal Biosciences on de-extinction projects (dire wolf, dodo, thylacine, woolly mammoth).
• Explains science and pitfalls: true resurrection unlikely for ancient animals (e.g., dinosaurs), but possible for those with viable DNA and extant relatives.
• Ethical and ecological considerations: Restoration of extinct species to fulfill their environmental roles.

6. Random & Fun Facts / Anecdotes

• Recounted living with a baby vervet monkey rescued on the farm who slept on his mosquito net (17:36).
• Discussed experiment raising a chimp alongside a human child—both began to mimic each other (20:55).
• Panda bears are “trying to go extinct...they are so dumb, give mom an apple, she’ll hand you her baby.” (91:10 - Forrest)
• Human impact—cane toads in Australia, zebra mussels in US lakes, invasive sea squirts in New England.
• Softshell turtles: “A turtle with a soft shell. Why? It’s so crazy...these things evolved away from having a hard shell. It's brave.” (97:35 - Forrest)
• The vaquita: world’s most endangered porpoise, possibly only 9-11 left.

Highlights & Memorable Moments

• Theo’s infectious wonder and jokes about “crackoons,” French bull gerbils, a hamster for a date, and “meth gators” keep things light even amid serious topics.
• Honest conversation about the trauma and resilience from surviving violent racial conflict and starting over in America.
• Candid stories of nearly dying—dodging gunfire in Zimbabwe, snake strikes, animal surgeries gone wrong.
• Stirring call for a return to nature, rejecting constant tech and modern life—“That thick silence [in Africa]...that’s what brings me back...I think that's the most grounding thing, man.” (23:28 - Forrest)
• Reminder of life’s brevity—“Think about how many summers you have left...It's not that many.” (110:25 - Theo/Forrest)

Important Timestamps

• 03:00–04:50: Forrest describes childhood in Zimbabwe, love of wildlife, and seeing nature diminish
• 05:30–08:59: Land reform violence; losing the family farm
• 16:35–18:22: Story of raising a vervet monkey
• 27:05–29:24: Becoming a wildlife biologist; Animals on Drugs show origin
• 35:30–36:23: Hippo castration in Colombia – danger and logistics
• 51:10–53:02: Snake on the neck; near-fatal encounters
• 55:41–56:24: Fer-de-lance bite close-call; “complacency kills”
• 67:21–69:35: On arrogance of declaring species extinct, rediscovery successes
• 70:04–71:04: Up to 3,000 species potentially go extinct per year
• 76:06–77:25: Humans’ responsibilities; being guardians, not parasites
• 80:00–80:33: Individual vs organizational action—Mr. Beast’s clean water project
• 97:35–99:18: Softshell turtles as “sleeper” species

Conclusion

The episode delivers both wild adventure and profound reflection. Forrest Galante’s life serves as a bridge between wild nature and modern civilization, his stories equal parts warning and inspiration. Both Galante and Von leave listeners with a sense of urgency, curiosity, and hope—as well as an infectious urge to get outside, reconnect, and reconsider humanity’s place in the animal kingdom.

Check out Forrest’s new show "Animals on Drugs," streaming on HBO Max.