The 90-Second Naturalist
with Thane Maynard

On August 27, 2007, The 90-Second Naturalist, Thane Maynard, celebrated 20 years on the radio. With over 5200 shows recorded since its debut in 1987, The 90-Second Naturalist has informed countless nature enthusiasts about issues of biological diversity, natural history and global wildlife conservation. Thane Maynard, Executive Director of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, hosts the program. Sharing experiences from the world of conservation and his many travels, Maynard accomplishes his goal to inform the public about wildlife in an entertaining, but brief manner.

“People often ask how we come up with animal stories every single day for The 90-Second Naturalist, especially since we've been doing them for 20 years now,” said Maynard. “Fortunately, the show is a perfect reflection of just what we do at the Cincinnati Zoo every day, which is try to engage and intrigue the general public with the wonders of nature. So, the show's longevity is simply a case of a perfect fit: Nature provides an endless array of amazing offbeat facts, and I have the baloney to keep telling the story.”

Maynard can be heard locally on WGUC 90.9 FM between 7:30 and 8 AM and again at 6 PM, on WVXU 91.7 FM at 9 p.m. each weeknight and on over 100 radio stations across the country, as well as Armed Forces Radio. The 90-Second Naturalist can also be downloaded in Real Audio format at its interactive website, www.nsnaturalist.org.

“Move over Marlin Perkins! The 90-Second Naturalist has been on the air for 20 years and that's no minor feat. Just try to imagine a more enthusiastic and knowledgeable radio host than Cincinnati's own Thane Maynard,” said Richard Block, director of the Santa Barbara Zoo. “At a time when there is a great need to get people reconnected with those things wild and natural around us, Thane's fascinating and inspiring insights into the natural world are reaching interested listeners across the country. I'm looking forward to what's in store for the next 20 years!”

The 90-Second Naturalist not only aims to inform the public about the earth’s rich biodiversity, but also to encourage listeners to take a proactive role in the conservation of our natural world. Maynard has welcomed numerous guests to his show over the years including Joan Embery, ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin and ornithologist Pete Dunne.

The 90-Second Naturalist is a production of Classical WGUC 90.9FM and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.