#BONUS: Wildfire Ecology, DNA Barcoding Research, Nitrogen Deposition, Nature Conferences, and more!

Summary Hi everyone! This week’s episode is not a traditional interview episode, but rather more of an update. But I still tried to pack some great nature content in it. Regular episodes return in two weeks, So what’s on tap today? I have some fascinating updates and topics that I picked up from two nature … More #BONUS: Wildfire Ecology, DNA Barcoding Research, Nitrogen Deposition, Nature Conferences, and more!

#53: Michelle Foss on Forest Stewardship at Fontenelle Forest

Summary Today’s episode is really exciting and was a new experience for me – a field interview! And I couldn’t have asked for a better guest than Michelle Foss, Director of Resource Stewardship at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, Nebraska. Fontenelle Forest is not what most people would typically think of if they envisioned Nebraska. It … More #53: Michelle Foss on Forest Stewardship at Fontenelle Forest

#41: Michael Kauffmann: Conifers – Extreme Survivors

Summary My guest in this episode is Michael Kauffmann. He’s a life-long educator, ecologist, and author, as well as founder of Backcountry Press. He’s also an expert in conifers – those wonderful trees that include some of the tallest, widest, and oldest living trees on Earth. Think Giant Sequoia, Coast Redwood, and Bristlecone Pine for … More #41: Michael Kauffmann: Conifers – Extreme Survivors

#35: Ben Goldfarb – Eager Beavers, The Quintessential Keystone Species

Summary Today you’ll become a Beaver Believer thanks to my guest, Ben Goldfarb. Ben is the author of the book Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, winner of the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. Aside from being an author, Ben is an environmental journalist, with writing appearing in … More #35: Ben Goldfarb – Eager Beavers, The Quintessential Keystone Species

ENCORE: Rick Halsey – Wildfire Ecology in the Chaparral and the American West

Summary This is an encore of my popular wildfire in the west interview with Rick Halsey of the California Chaparral Institute. Don’t worry, more great new episodes are coming.  Do you want to learn about bird migration forecasting? I’ve got you covered. And how about maximizing your nature observations when in the field? Covered again. … More ENCORE: Rick Halsey – Wildfire Ecology in the Chaparral and the American West

#9: Rick Halsey – Wildfire Ecology in the Chaparral and the American West

Summary My guest today is noted wildfire and chaparral ecologist Rick Halsey.  Rick authored the book “Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California”, and has given countless talks on the subject.  Rick has a background in Environmental Studies, Anthropology, and Education, with degrees from University of California Santa Barbara, Cal State San Diego and UC … More #9: Rick Halsey – Wildfire Ecology in the Chaparral and the American West

A Quick Note on California’s Historic Wildfire Season

I live in San Jose, and we’re sandwiched in between three large fires, including two of the top three fires ever in California. In fact, 17 of the top 20 California fires of all time have occurred since 2003. While the 2020 fires were started by natural causes – lightning, it is clear that the … More A Quick Note on California’s Historic Wildfire Season