It’s far too rare in the world of environmentalism to see programs that seek to solve humanitarian issues, to create positive conservation outcomes. But, after seeing the implications of illegal logging on the communities and ecosystems in which they grew up, the Founders of Yayasan ASRI went about stopping it a little differently by asking ‘why?’ This approach, later dubbed ‘radical listening’ by the organization, led to a very simple answer to their question - local communities couldn’t afford...
May 05, 2021•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Munir Virani is a world-renowned raptor biologist and the executive vice president of the Peregrine Fund. We talk with him about growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, his inspiration to begin studying birds of prey, and how he helped solve a continent-wide mystery about the source of a mass-poisoning event that wiped out more than 95% of India’s vulture population. Join private conversations with top authors and access exclusive bonus content! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 21, 2021•51 min•Transcript available on Metacast There's no denying that climate change will play a significant role in everyone's lives in the future (if it isn't keeping you awake at night already). But how do we tell our kids the truth and reality about climate change and its implications on their futures without completely freaking them out? Well, the answer is actually pretty complicated and doesn't allow for a clear-cut solution. While it is an amazing feat that some kids are learning about this important topic AT ALL, th...
Apr 07, 2021•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Samara Almonte is the creator of Raíces Verdes, a podcast for healing our relationship with the Earth and with each other, as well as a platform dedicated to validating, sharing and archiving the experiences of Black, Indigenous, People of color in connection to the environment. In this episode we speak with Samara about the inspiration behind her podcast, and share a segment from her recent interview with indigenous scholar, scientist and community advocate Dr. Jessica Hernandez. Join private c...
Mar 24, 2021•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast After a difficult experience finding outdoor clothing that fit well, Raquel did what any normal person would do to solve this problem by starting her own inclusive outdoor clothing company. Raquel Vélez is the CEO and founder of Alpine Parrot, an outdoor clothing company that centers plus size women and women of color. Alpine Parrot is essentially a response to the lack of sizing and diversity in most outdoor brands and celebrates the empowerment and visibility of plus size bodies out in the wil...
Mar 10, 2021•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Historian Mark David Spence is the author of “Dispossessing the Wilderness”, which explores the often obscured history of the forced removal of Native Americans from the landscapes that would become our first national parks. Yosemite, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks were inhabited landscapes before white settlers arrived and were awestruck by the scenic majesty of these places. Spence’s work shows how the history of the National Park Service is intertwined with the history of the reservat...
Feb 24, 2021•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast Remember that insurrection thing that happened on January 6th? Well we’re here to talk about it! On today’s episode we convene a roundtable discussion with Wild Lens Inc. co-founder Matt Podolsky, former Senior Producer for the show, Gregory Haddock, and current Senior Producer, Sarinah Simons for a refreshing dive into all things politics. We discuss some of the news that’s been on our minds following the election and certification of Joe Biden for President of the United States, as well as how...
Feb 10, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, we chat with Suzanne Smith, Founder and Executive Director of the Amazon River Dolphin Conservation Foundation about her efforts to conserve the endangered River Dolphins in the Amazon through research, education and collaboration. We talk about how her conservation work which builds upon the wisdom and beliefs of the local communities in the Amazon may be a recipe for success, despite the odds. Join private conversations with top authors and access exclusive bonus content! Host...
Jan 27, 2021•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast New Zealand is known as a land of extensive wilderness and pristine ecosystems, but, as with pretty much every single other natural habitat on this planet, it isn’t without its issues. These isolated islands have got some pretty big problems being caused by some very little animals. Before Maori settlement in the early to mid-1300s New Zealand’s two big islands and numerous surrounding smaller islands were completely human-free. Since our species arrived, the country has seen its (largely endemi...
Jan 13, 2021•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Rosalind Helfand was enamored with the wild hills of Simi Valley as a child. Their continuous destruction by human expansion ignited a quest for justice that has embedded Roz on the frontlines fighting for environmental and social issues her entire life. Recognition that human rights and the plights facing our natural ecosystems are intertwined has strengthened her resolve. Roz works as a consultant helping develop progressive policies for non-profit and governmental entities. A recent focus has...
Dec 30, 2020•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the picturesque Pacific Northwest lies an incredible landscape where the sea and mountain meet. This environment means life on land and sea are deeply intertwined with one another. In this episode, we will explore exactly how trees being planted near rivers throughout the region are helping save salmon, orcas, and an entire ecosystem. I’m Victoria (Tori) Obermeyer, an environmental photojournalist based in Washington State. Over the last three years, I have been studying the highly endangered...
Dec 16, 2020•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast ‘’We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already.’’- J K Rowling. This holds true for the 19 year old changemaker-Melati Wijsen. I’m Aishwarya Sridhar-a wildlife filmmaker and presenter from India. I first read about her through an Instagram takeover she had done for National Geographic Asia. It left me super inspired. As a population, parents usually tell their children that when they grow up they can make a difference. But why should we wait t...
Dec 02, 2020•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast What is the first thing that you think of if you hear the words “tropical forest conservation”? You wouldn’t be alone in imagining an untouched, fenced-off expanse of land, but today we’re going to discuss how it is possible to sustainably use a forest in a way that benefits both forest and people through sustainable forestry techniques. We’re going to visit the very special place that is Iwokrama, a protected area comprising 371,000 hectares of forest in the middle of Guyana, South America. I’m...
Nov 18, 2020•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast This Earth to Humans roundtable discussion was recorded LIVE on election night! Join us for discussion and analysis about the implications of this unprecedented election and how the outcome could effect the environment, wildlife, and much more. Join private conversations with top authors and access exclusive bonus content! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe...
Nov 04, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of Earth to Humans, which is shared from the Wild Lens produced series COMMON LAND, we explore the ancient history of the Snake River Canyon region in Southwestern Idaho. The Shoshone and Paiute people and their ancestors have lived in and around this area for at least 14,500 years, and this episodes shares a look at their culture and lifeways before the arrival of European American settlers. Join private conversations with top authors and access exclusive bonus content! Hosted o...
Oct 21, 2020•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast When we think of organized crime, we don’t often think of it involving wildlife. Something more along the lines of the Sopranos and Breaking Bad maybe, but not tigers and turtles. Jessica Graham is trying to change that. It may be surprising to know that wildlife trafficking is one of the five most lucrative illegal, global trades, valued at over 20 billion USD per year. Jessica, who has worked in INTERPOL’s Environmental Security Program as well as in the U.S. State Department’s Presidential Ta...
Oct 07, 2020•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast After months of conversation, debate, and reflecting on listener feedback... we've settled on a new name. We are still the Eyes on Conservation people you've come to expect, but our focus is shifting ever-so-slightly to the needs of this world and the people, plants, and animals on it. We hope you continue to join us for the adventure. Find out more at www.wildlensinc.org Music in this show: "Hotshot", by Scott Holmes via Creative Commons licensing. Join private conversations wit...
Oct 01, 2020•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast A case of the Nigerian Bird Atlas Project (NiBAP) “Birds are just a window for us to get a better understanding of what goes on around us and for us to understand what our impacts might be on the environment and on other wildlife.” Dr. Samuel Ivande Wherever you are in the world, September is an important time in the year for many species of migratory (migrant) birds because it typically marks the beginning of a new season and some birds are either leaving or returning. In Africa, some yearly bi...
Sep 23, 2020•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast Paulette Jordan is a candidate for the US Senate in Idaho, and a former Idaho state representative. If elected, she would be the first female senator to represent Idaho, and the first female Native American senator in US history. In our interview, Jordan discusses how her background has informed her approach towards running her campaign, and why she has a shot at victory despite Idaho's reputation as an extremely conservative state. Join private conversations with top authors and access excl...
Sep 18, 2020•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast When we think about communities that are threatened by climate change, we often think about coastal areas and how these communities will be affected by sea-level rise, but we often don’t think about the other elevation extreme; how mountainous communities are going to be affected, and how they will have to adapt. In this podcast episode, we dive in to learn how mountainous communities around the world are adapting to climate change. We are joined by two researchers who lend different perspective...
Sep 09, 2020•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast Coral reefs are one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. While 1% of the world’s oceans are coral reefs, they support 25% of all marine life and feed more than 500 million people. In some areas of Florida and the Caribbean, the coral cover has declined by 50% to 80% in the last 30 years and it takes centuries for these reefs to develop naturally, thus running the risk of losing them altogether. But every dark cloud has a silver lining! Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium has developed a uniqu...
Aug 26, 2020•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Shrouded in mystery, misunderstood, vilified and beautiful, mountain lions, pumas, cougars (or however you refer to them), exist in our modern world in constant conflict. People hate them, people love them, or people fear them. Mark Elbroch is a mountain lion biologist who has dedicated his career to not only studying these elusive animals, but working to bridge the divide among different stakeholders, agencies, and advocates. In Mark’s new book, The Cougar Conundrum (available August 13, 2020) ...
Aug 12, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Quick! Before Matt and Greg do something dumb! We've got some good ideas and some not-so-good ideas. Help us make the decision as we rename Eyes on Conservation! Tell us what to do!!! info@wildlensinc.org or leave a voicemail at 208-917-3786. Join private conversations with top authors and access exclusive bonus content! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe...
Aug 11, 2020•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Things are changing at EOC! Send us an email and let us know your thoughts at info@wildlensinc.org This episode was originally published nearly 2 years ago, but it could have been made yesterday. Thank you Sarinah Simons and Rue Mapp for this piece of internet gold. Original Text: On today’s episode of the show, I interview a woman who has inspired me and many people like me to embrace themselves in outdoor spaces and find community even when its not always easy. Her name is Rue Mapp, and she is...
Aug 05, 2020•49 min•Transcript available on Metacast As the world of brand names and politicians offer their bandwagon platitudes for the summer of 2020 we’ve been thinking a lot about what that means for us. On the surface of it, conversations about wildlife, nature, conservation, climate change, mass extinction, and more – don’t often feel like there is a direct connection with racism, LGBTQ rights, gender equality, rampant runaway nationalism, classism, wealth inequality... And yet, the two worlds of our cultural values and the physical space a...
Jul 29, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Transcript available on Metacast “[Dolphins] have been on the face of the Earth a lot longer than humans have been. They've figured out a number of solutions for making a living in an environment that would be very hostile to us, and yet that joins the areas where we live. So we talk about these animals living in our backyard, but in reality, we kind of live in their backyard.” When Dr. Randall Wells was still in high school, he joined a U.S. naval research project involving dolphins as an assistant in Sarasota Bay Florida....
Jul 15, 2020•38 min•Transcript available on Metacast “My focus was on the impact of environmental and climate change on national security , a growing concern of the military and intelligence communities… The White House blocked the submission of my bureau’s written testimony [because] the analysis did not comport with the administration’s position on climate change.” – Rod Schoonover, July 2019. Dr. Rod Schoonover was a tenured professor when he went to work for the United States intelligence community in 2009. His task was to investigate the scie...
Jul 01, 2020•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Oceans are the lifeline of our blue planet and they cover nearly ¾ of the Earth’s surface. And on June 8 th we celebrated World Oceans Day. Who doesn’t love the ocean right? Beaches, the lovely breeze, the feel of sand beneath your feet, the wildlife. So, wildlife film-maker and presenter, Aishwarya Sridhar talks to Francesca Trotman, managing director and founder of Love The Oceans . Love the Oceans is a non-profit marine conservation organisation working in Jangamo Bay, Mozambique since 2014. ...
Jun 17, 2020•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on our relationship with wildlife. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is zoonotic, which means it originated in an animal. Experts believe the virus emerged in bats then jumped to an intermediary host, possibly pangolins, before infecting humans. Evidence suggests that the virus made the first leap from animal to human in a wet market in Wuhan China where a wide variety of wild animals, including bats, crocodiles, wolf puppies, giant salam...
Jun 03, 2020•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Common Land is a radio documentary series that explores the creation stories behind protected areas. Season Two of Common Land will be focused on the Appalachian Trail, and production was scheduled to start in March of 2020. Unfortunately, the spread of COVID-19 has forced us, along with many others hoping to thru-hike the entire 2,200-mile-long trail, to postpone their trips. In this bonus episode of the show, we explore the motivations behind those seeking to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail, a...
May 28, 2020•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
