S2E8: Bryan Christy - The Lizard King

S2E8: Bryan Christy - The Lizard King

From Nature's Secret Service by Ed Newcomer

November 18, 2025 · 1h 9m · Season 2 · Episode 8

About this episode

Ed Newcomer interviews Bryan Christy about the reptile trade and the controversial figures involved in it.

Join Ed for his conversation with Bryan Christy as they talk about the world of the reptile trade and reptile trafficking. Christy is the author of The Lizard King , a book that chronicles the origins and history of a reptile supply company known as Strictly Reptiles and its controversial owners Ray and Mike Van Nostrand. Bryan and Ed will talk about the late Charles "Chip" Bepler, a US Fish and Wildlife Service special agent who spent years pursuing and making a case against Strictly and Mike Van Nostrand. The story will open your eyes to the seedy underbelly of the world of "pet" reptiles and even surprise you as it exposes the intense rivalry between criminal and lawman, all-the-while telling the true story of the personal lives and emotions driving the two adversaries hell bent on defeating each other.

People in this episode

Host: Ed Newcomer

Guest: Bryan Christy

Topics covered

  • reptile trade
  • reptile trafficking
  • criminal rivalry
  • wildlife law enforcement
  • pet reptiles
  • true crime

Keywords

  • reptile trade
  • trafficking
  • wildlife crime
  • The Lizard King
  • Strictly Reptiles
  • Chip Bepler
  • law enforcement
  • criminal rivalry

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Strictly Reptiles

Books & works: The Lizard King

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