Today’s guest you’ve heard of but probably don’t know her full story. Remember the viral video from a few years back of a group of researchers pulling a straw out of a sea turtle's nose? Well, the woman behind the camera was Christine Figgener, Ph.D., and for this week’s episode, Brooke had the opportunity to sit down with her and explore her work from the past 15 years. Chris is a marine biologist and has spent her career on the beaches of Costa Rica researching and saving Leatherback and Hawks...
Feb 01, 2022•2 hr 14 min
If you’ve listened to the show for any length of time, then you’re well aware that Brooke loves traveling the globe and meeting the people that are dedicating their lives to saving Earth’s biodiversity. Today’s guest, Frank Garita, is one of those special people. For several days this past November, Frank guided Brooke through Costa Rica’s wild places, and they had lots of time to chat about his favorite group of animals: cetaceans (whales). For Part 4 of the Costa: Life, Lava & Forests seri...
Jan 25, 2022•43 min
Today’s episode is Part 3 of the Costa Rica: Life, Lava & Forests series, and our guest, Brad Nahill, is the Co-Founder and President of SEE Turtles. Brad and Brooke have a fantastic conversation about all of SEE Turtles’ initiatives, plus his story about how he found his calling by sort of falling into sea turtle work. He also openly discusses the highlights and challenges of his career. As we all know from our own life experiences, no one’s journey is all unicorns and rainbows, and Brad ha...
Jan 18, 2022•1 hr 50 min
Today’s guest, Adriana Aguilar Borbon, is an Educator & Volunteer Manager at Proyecto Asis. Adriana is an integral part of the project’s mission to educate the public about the darker side of wildlife tourism and human-wildlife conflict. All the animals at their facility were either confiscated by the Ministry or injured due to coming into contact with humans. She views every interaction as an opportunity to educate people on how to properly live with wildlife and why animals are better in t...
Jan 11, 2022•1 hr 29 min
Today’s guest, Juan Carlos Cruz, has spent the past twelve years studying the beautiful and elusive jaguar. We chat all things jaguars, such as their relation to the more famous jaguar populations in South America, jaguars versus pumas (or mountain lions) and the difference between their ecological roles, the relationship between jaguars and sea turtles, and how Juan is working diligently to converse these cats by co-founding Nama Conservation, a non-profit dedicated to protecting jaguar habitat...
Jan 04, 2022•1 hr 4 min
In today’s episode, you’re going to hear four amazing former guests talk about 2021 and their goals for 2022. First, you’ll hear Kayla Fratt, conservation dog handler extraordinaire. Next is Josy Cardoso, badass Naturalist Guide and hotel owner in the Galapagos. Following is Judith Wanda, the inspirational professor in Tanzania working diligently to change the conservation narrative in East Africa. Fourth is Charles van Rees, Ph.D., freshwater conservation guru. And lastly, you’ll from me and my...
Dec 29, 2021•33 min
Episode 28 guest, Kayla Fratt, interviewed Brooke for an episode of the K9 Conservationists Podcast. They chat about the power of conservation travel, as well as using unconventional communication methods to ignite change. Enjoy this bonus conversation! Be sure to check out K9 Conservationists whenever you are done listening! https://k9conservationists.org/ If you’re liking the show, please hit the follow button and share with someone you think would enjoy this episode. Sharing is the best way t...
Dec 21, 2021•1 hr 20 min
In this episode, I’m sitting down with Sasha Francis, environmental educator at Galveston Bay Foundation in Texas and former marine mammal trainer. Sasha was born in Rhode Island and knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue a career with wildlife. After an internship working with marine mammals, she knew what she wanted to do. She strived to enter the marine mammal world and worked with many incredible species for over a decade. After years of personal struggles and sacrifices, however, s...
Dec 15, 2021•1 hr 59 min
In this episode, I’m chatting with Tom (TA) Opre, award-winning filmmaker and producer. At a fateful event in 2016, a Zambian man approached Tom and asked him to record an incredible story unfolding in his country. A chieftainess, whose people were dying from starvation, approached the man, Roland Norton, asking him to please bring opportunity to their community. For the next three years, Tom recorded the community’s recovery, including all the triumphs, struggles, and conspiracies. He named the...
Dec 07, 2021•1 hr 38 min
Today, I’m chatting with Kara Finkelstein, co-founder of Lekker Coffee & Watering Hole. Kara was raised in California on 20 acres with farm animals galore. Growing up, she thought she’d become a veterinarian until she realized how many sick and dying animals she’d have to deal with on a daily basis. She shifted her studies, but never lost her passion for wildlife. At the end of a backpacking trip through Europe, she decided to intern at Care For Wild, the largest rhino orphanage in the world...
Nov 23, 2021•58 min
Today we’re chatting with two inspirational Malagasy lemur experts, Onja Razafindratsima, PhD, and Veronarindra Ramananjato. Both wonderful ladies grew up in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and found their passion for lemurs while exploring the forests of Ranomafana National Park on a trip for their school’s environmental club. They met researchers from all over the globe and their future path was set in motion. Now, Onja is Vero’s mentor and a professor at the University of California – Berkeley, and...
Nov 17, 2021•1 hr 21 min
In this episode, Brooke sits with Dillon Jones, a graduate student at San Diego State University who is studying the evolutionary history of herpetofauna in Middle America. (Quick definition: herpetofauna are reptiles and amphibians found in a particular region or time period, which you’ll soon learn more about). Dillon also uses social media as a powerful science communication tool and has reached Instagram Influencer status. A few highlight topics include the huge potential of his herp evoluti...
Nov 10, 2021•1 hr 46 min
Episode 37 guest, Charles van Rees, Ph.D., interviewed Brooke for an episode of the Nature Guys Podcast. They chat about big cats near and far. Enjoy this bonus conversation! Be sure to check out Nature Guys whenever you are done listening! https://natureguys.org/ If you’re liking the show, please hit the follow button and share with someone you think would enjoy this episode. Sharing is the best way to help the show grow! Check out the new Rewildology merch shop! https://rewildology.com/shop/ S...
Nov 05, 2021•36 min
In this episode, I’m chatting with Stotra Chakrabarti, PhD, Assistant Professor at Macalester College in Minnesota, USA. Stotra grew up in the Indian foothills of the Himalayas and spent his days watching elephants and leopards, and bringing home any injured animal he found, much to his mother’s dismay. His interest in wildlife ecology and conservation biology was cemented during a very immersive and rigorous master’s training at the Wildlife Institute of India, which he continued onto a PhD by ...
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 51 min
In this episode, Rewildology host, Brooke Mitchell-Norman, discusses an exciting and growing topic in the conservation world: Nature Based Solutions (NBS). She explores what NBS are and what they are not, looks at a couple of case studies that showcase the power of NBS, and shares how we can use our voices to bring NBS to our communities. If you’re liking the show, please hit the follow button and share with someone you think would enjoy this episode. Sharing is the best way to help the show gro...
Oct 27, 2021•16 min
In this episode, I’m chatting with Sam Trull, the Co-founder of The Sloth Institute in Manual Antonia, Costa Rica, and author of Sloth Love. Sam first fell in love with lemurs as a young girl, but after working at the Duke Lemur Center for 12 years and experiencing some life turmoil, she realized that working with animals in captivity was no longer fulfilling. She began traveling and worked in primate conservation around the world. After teaching a primate course and taking a job as a vet tech i...
Oct 19, 2021•1 hr 37 min
Today I’m chatting with Tiare Boyes. Tiare is a commercial fisherman, professional diver, underwater filmmaker, and artist. Tiare grew up on the coast of Vancouver, British Colombia in a fishing family, and I promise you that few people outside of her field understand ethical fishing better than she does. She’s been on the water pretty much since the day she was born. We dive deep (no pun intended) into her story, her love of underwater filmmaking and photography, gender gaps in the fishing indu...
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Today I’m speaking with Drew Hamilton, professional bear guide and wildlife photographer. Drew has led bear tours in the Alaskan wilderness for two decades. Trust me, if experiencing an on-foot bear expedition is on your bucket list, you want to go with this man. Few people understand grizzlies’ – and other potentially dangerous wildlife – behavior better than Drew. And so when the proposed Pebble Mine at the headwaters of Bristol Bay was fast-tracked, Drew jumped into action and became a leadin...
Oct 05, 2021•39 min
In this episode, Brooke has a chat with Bridgette San Marco, Co-Founder of Save the Giants. Bridgette is a zookeeper and absolutely fell in love with giant otters early in her career. She wanted to do more for wild otters and went on a search to find an organization working diligently to conserve the species. When she didn’t find one, she connected with other otter lovers and co-founded Save the Giants with fellow conservationist, Christina Ward. Now, they’re working with indigenous communities ...
Sep 28, 2021•1 hr 31 min
In this episode, I’m chatting with Kayla Cranston, PhD, Director of Conservation Psychology Strategy and Integration at Antioch University, New England. Kayla is a master at creating long-term conservation engagement using psychology. She shares many of her discoveries, the tools she uses when developing conservation strategies in communities, and so much more. If you’re working on your Masters, PhD, or are at a conservation organization, you cannot miss this episode. Kayla might give you a nugg...
Sep 21, 2021•1 hr 33 min
In this episode, I’m chatting with Michael McFadden, reintroduction biologist and head of the Herpetofauna department at the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. For years, Michael has been rescuing, propagating, and reintroducing endangered amphibian and reptile species back into the Australian bush. His work is as rewarding as it is difficult, and he shares his many years of experience with us – all the highs, lows, and surprises. This week’s question: What are the biggest threats to nature in yo...
Sep 14, 2021•1 hr 36 min
In this episode, we meet Devin Jaffe. Devin is a bird conservationist, the Founder of Nature’s Educators, a world-class raptor breeder, Master Falconer, and a musician. I have no idea how she successfully wears so many hats, but let me tell you what, she’s absolutely crushing them all. I learned so much from Devin and I hope you all will, too. This week’s question: For bird life in your area, what is the biggest issue they are facing? What work is being done to conserve them? Do any species of r...
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr 27 min
Michael grew up in the mountains of Colorado and while on a trip to Laos after college, saw elephant treatment that he couldn’t bear. He had previously been on several trips abroad working on various conservation programs and he wanted to start his own impactful project. So, he and his close friend partnered with locals Laotians to found Mandalao, a no-riding, sustainable elephant tourism experience. They immediately grew in popularity, but his road has been anything but easy. This week’s questi...
Aug 31, 2021•1 hr 29 min
Rinzin grew up in Humla, a remote and isolated mountain village in Western Nepal. He spent his childhood playing in nature with friends and skipping class as much as possible. When the Royal Massacre of 2001 sparked the Nepalese civil war, Rinzin’s parents decided to pack up and leave their tribal home for the capital city, Kathmandu. It was Rinzin’s first time in a city and he had a lot to learn. But, he dedicated himself to his studies, and with a lot of twists and turns, found his passion for...
Aug 24, 2021•1 hr 20 min
In this episode, I’m speaking with Charles van Rees, PhD. Charles and I chat in-depth about the current water crisis and its effect on wildlife. We also talk about a huge paper he’s currently working on that might change the way we view and handle freshwater ecosystems. In his free-ish time, Charles is also a regular host on The Nature Guys Podcast, a super fun show all about getting outdoors and exploring our backyards, which I highly recommend you all check out after listening to this show. We...
Aug 17, 2021•1 hr 31 min
Born in Nigeria, Iroro grew up watching nature documentaries from all around the world, planting the seeds for her future love of biology. Her big breakthrough happened when she signed up for a research course in Uganda which was led by a UK organization. After years of searching, she finally found what she was looking for – hands-on biological research with bats. After her Master’s in the UK, Iroro returned to Nigeria to study the status of bats for her Ph.D. During what seemed like a normal fi...
Aug 10, 2021•1 hr 34 min
Content Warning: Some stories are graphic and may be difficult to listen to. In this episode, I’m chatting with Andre Robberts, the founder of Enviro Crime Solutions. Formally an IT corporate 9 to 5’er, Andre found his passion for wildlife crime forensics while volunteering at Kruger National Park during his summer holiday. Instead of washing cars and pushing papers, he was asked to carry a rifle and bring in the South African police force to process outstanding rhino poaching cases. It was exha...
Aug 03, 2021•1 hr 28 min
Today I’m bringing you a special episode. This Thursday, July 29th, is International Tiger Day, a holiday dedicated to raising awareness about tiger conservation. To celebrate and contribute in the best way I know how, I want to share with you all a large chunk of what I’ve learned about tigers throughout my years of studying conservation biology, as well as my experiences traveling internationally to see these big cats in the wild. I share the science that’s being conducted to save tigers from ...
Jul 27, 2021•20 min
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Tehri Parker, Ph.D., Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Wild. Tehri grew up in the small town of Hygiene, Colorado, and was influenced by the 70s environmental movement and political artists like John Denver. When Tehri graduated from high school, she left her tiny town as quickly as possible and moved to California to study TV and broadcasting. She soon realized that radio and TV weren’t her thing. After some soul searching and research, she found her pas...
Jul 20, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Today’s guest, Carolina Powell, is the perfect combination of perseverance and determination. Being a first-generation Colombian-American, Carolina was raised by a single mother who immigrated to Miami, Florida, in the hopes of offering her daughter a better life. Like many of us in this field, Carolina first thought she was going to be a veterinarian until she worked with a vet whose values (or lack thereof) didn’t align with her own. After interning in the Bronx Zoo’s development department, s...
Jul 13, 2021•1 hr 15 min
