Hi! I’m Hilda, one half of Creeping Things Podcast!

My love of animals goes back as far as I can remember. I grew up in a family that has always appreciated wildlife, and some of my earliest memories are of curling up with my dad in front of the TV as a toddler, watching National Geographic, wildlife documentaries, and travel shows. We also spent a lot of time exploring places like Yosemite, Mexico and Monterey as a family, and I grew up surrounded by animals. We always had pets, including some exotic ones! That love of animals and exploring the world has stayed with me my entire life.

Travel is another huge part of who I am. I’ve visited almost 50 countries and spent about 15 years leading group trips around the world. I love discovering new places, experiencing different cultures, and learning about the incredible wildlife we share this planet with. I love animals of ALL kinds, from the tiniest invertebrates to the largest mammals and everything in between.

My love and compassion for animals also influence the way I live my life. I’m vegan, and I regularly donate to several organizations dedicated to helping and protecting both domestic and wild animals. Animal welfare and conservation are causes that are incredibly close to my heart.

Today, I live with my family on an 18-acre ranch in the foothills of Yosemite National Park, surrounded by wildlife and a household that resembles a mini zoo! Our animal family includes dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, snakes, lizards, tarantulas, true spiders, and beetles.

When I’m not working on the podcast, you’ll probably find me spending time with my family, tending to my little zoo, exploring the outdoors, photographing wildlife, traveling, going down rabbit holes about random things, reading my bible or making lifesaving breakaway dog collars.

My Personal Mission

As a Christian, my faith plays a huge role in how I see and appreciate the natural world. In fact, it was a major inspiration behind the creation of Creeping Things Podcast.

Something that has always stood out to me is that God didn’t overlook the creatures so many people fear, dislike, or misunderstand. In Genesis 1:24–25, He specifically includes the “creeping things” among His creations and declares that what He made is good. In Psalm 148:10, even the creeping things are included in the call to praise the Lord. And Psalm 104 reminds us just how vast and extraordinary His creation is, from the smallest creatures to the largest. I find that incredibly meaningful.

Spiders, snakes, insects, and so many other animals have been given such a bad reputation. They’re often feared, killed, or dismissed simply because of how they look or because people don’t understand them. But these animals are fascinating, they serve important roles in our ecosystems, and they deserve far more respect and compassion than they receive.

One of my biggest hopes for Creeping Things is to help change the way people see these animals. I want to replace fear with fascination, misconceptions with understanding, and encourage people to recognize the beauty and value in creatures that they may have never given a second thought.

You don’t have to love every animal, and you certainly don’t have to want one as a pet, to respect its existence and appreciate the role it plays in the world.

My hope is that through Creeping Things, people will begin to see these misunderstood creatures a little differently; because when God created the “creeping things”, He didn’t call them ugly, frightening, or unworthy of our appreciation He saw what He had made, and He called it good. - Genesis 1:25