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Erin Ranney: Filming The Matriarchs of the Animal Kingdom (Wildlife Stories through the lens)
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Filming Bears, Deep Seas & the Matriarchs of the Wild
🎙️ Adventure Diaries Podcast
From grizzly bear close calls in Alaska to exploring 4,000 meters below the sea, wildlife cinematographer Erin Ranney takes us deep into some of the wildest places on Earth.
Erin has filmed for National Geographic, Disney, BBC, IMAX, and was part of the groundbreaking all-female production team behind Queens, a visually stunning documentary that redefined how we tell stories about animal leadership—through the lens of matriarchal power.
A third-generation fisherwoman from Bristol Bay, Alaska—home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon run—Erin shares how growing up between forests and fisheries gave her a lifelong connection to nature, a strong work ethic, and a deep respect for wildlife.
We talk about:
- 💥 Her funniest bear encounter (mid-bathroom break in Katmai!)
- 🐾 Filming adolescent grizzlies and why they’re the real troublemakers
- 🎓 Switching from veterinary science to ecology thanks to a fly-fishing class
- 🎥 Getting hooked on photography in Madagascar with a Costco camera
- 🛥️ Exploring the deep ocean with the Nautilus Live team
- 🐘 Filming elephants for Queens and navigating heartbreaking animal moments
- 🎞️ Founding Wildlife Cameramen Community and mentoring through Girls Who Click
- 🧭 Her passion project retracing her bush pilot grandmother’s remote Alaskan adventures
Plus, we round things off with Erin’s Call to Adventure, Pay It Forward conservation picks, and some quick-fire questions—including the advice she lives by:
"Lift as you climb."
🎧 Whether you love wildlife, adventure, conservation, or just great storytelling—this episode has it all.
Thanks For Listening.
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