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Nature's Archive

Michael Hawk

Nature’s Archive, hosted by Michael Hawk, delves into the beauty and complexity of the natural world through interviews with ecologists, naturalists, educators, authors, and researchers. Each episode inspires curiosity and reveals nature’s surprising nuances. Part of Jumpstart Nature, a movement empowering everyone to support the environment, this podcast invites you to connect with nature like never before.

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Thursday · 59 min
#133: The Potato-Sized Sentinel: Pikas, Climate Change, and Community Science with Dr. Jo Varner
Do you know about pikas? I asked that question to some family and friends and was surprised at the uncertain responses I received. I’m breaking podcast rules now, but if you don’t know about pikas, please stop listening and check out their picture on our show notes. They are super cute, potato sized animals that, at least in the United States, live in rock piles generally at high elevations. They gather bouquets of flowers from meadows, storing them for the long winters they endure. They’re so charismatic that they really should be the next viral animal that all the kids are sharing on social media. Today, we have pika expert, Dr. Johanna Varner, or Pika Jo for short. With her guidance, we learn about how these tiny animals are able to endure harsh winters at high elevation - without the benefit of hibernating. We learn how pikas are also indicator species for climate change, and Dr. Varner shares some wonderful anecdotes from the field - as well as how you can help track their populations. I’m so happy to have finally covered pikas on Nature’s Archive! Be sure to check out Dr. Varner on instagram and her website. FULL SHOW NOTES Links The Albino Pika adventure Dr. Varner mentioned Cascades Pika Watch Pika Patrol App: Google | Apple Rangers of the Lost Park Podcast Episode featuring Dr. Johanna Varner and Karli Weatherill Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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September 10 · 52 min
#132: Rails in the Reeds: Life in the Shadows, with Dr. Auriel Fournier
Today the podcast is going off the rails. That’s right, we’re discussing rails - you know, those absurdly sneaky, pancake-thin wetland birds you’re ten times more likely to hear shouting from the cattails than actually see. These fascinating birds are full of many secrets. Despite their atypical size, shape, and short wings, many migrate great distances. Their reclusive behavior makes them particularly hard to study, but thankfully we have Dr. Auriel Fournier, a leading rail researcher and director of the Forbes Biological Research Station on the podcast today. Dr. Fournier shares the wonder and breadth of rail life, the unique methods used to track rail movements, the challenges faced in managing wetlands for rails, and she even offers a few tips on how to see them. I even learned where the phrase “skinny as a rail” comes from! Be sure to check the show notes on naturesarchive.com for some rail-y great photos of some of the birds that were discussed. So come be a third rail with me today for this episode. It’s a sora-sly good discussion. Sorry - don’t rail against me for these rail-y great rail puns. Thanks to Amelia Heintz-Botz for guets sourcing and booking! FULL SHOW NOTES LINKS Forbes Biological Research Station Illinois Natural History Survey MOTUS tracking Firebird Project Nature's Archive Episode #33: Bird Migrations with Dr. Andrew Farnsworth Nature's Archive Episode #71: Wetlands with Tom Biebighauser Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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July 30 · 1 hr 4 min
#131: Storms from the Sun: Understanding Space Weather and Auroras with Dr. Ryan French
Nature is a very broad term, and as we often discuss on this show, everything is connected. Geology impacts soil, which dictates what plants can grow. But if we pull back even further, the ultimate engine driving our planet's systems is the Sun. So when I think of Nature’s Archive—and that big concept of "Nature"—I love bringing these grand, foundational subjects into our scope. Today is one such instance. Our guest is Dr. Ryan French, a solar astrophysicist and author who specializes in studying solar flares. Solar activity affects life on Earth in surprising ways—from creating spectacular auroras (the northern and southern lights) to disrupting GPS systems and power grids. And most fascinating for naturalists: these solar storms can even disrupt bird navigation and alter the foraging habits of bees. Dr. French walks us through why solar flares occur, an even more impactful phenomenon called a coronal mass ejection, why these events follow an 11-year cycle, the current state of space weather forecasting, and how you can see and photograph beautiful auroral displays yourself. Dr. French has an extremely fun and informative social media presence, so be sure to check out ryanjfrench.com for resources and links. This was a super fun discussion—one I’ve wanted to have pretty much since I started Nature’s Archive. FULL SHOW NOTES Links Compilation from Solar Flares and Eruptions from Dr. French's YouTube Channel ryanjfrench.com Check our Ryan's Books, including Space Hazards and The Little Book of Eclipses NOAA's Space Weather Site, including predictions and real-time observations Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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June 30 · 1 hr 16 min
#130: Burning Questions: Understanding Fire Management with Lenya Quinn-Davidson
From the archive... It’s summertime, and around the globe record heat is dominating, from Europe to the midwest, and across the oceans as well. As you know, heat is a key driver to wildfires. In fact, it is one of the three key ingredients, along with fuel and oxygen. Global oxygen levels, at least within our lifetimes, aren’t going to change much. But heat and fuel can and will change. Obviously, heat is increasing, so one variable is driving more fire potential. And in many areas, fuel is also increasing. Whether it be from invasive species like cheat grass in the high deserts, or excessive understory growth due to both invasive species and decades of fire suppression. Sometimes fuel is indirectly created by heat, which causes die-off of many trees and shrubs. And more complex still is the die-off caused by pine beetles, which are actually native. But they can turn destructive when excessive heat weakens tree defenses, and due to the forest service treating so many forests as dense monoculture crops. I’d like to share this interview with Lenya Quinn-Davidson, discussing fire management. This interview was recorded 2 years ago, but is more relevant than ever. Case in point, we’re barely into the traditional fire season and 2026 has already had record breaking wildfires in Nebraska, and Oklahoma and Kansas had a nearly 300,000 acre wildfire in February, along with a 35000 acre fire in Florida. Wildfire is complex, often misunderstood, and turned into political fodder. So please take a few minutes and enjoy this episode from the archive. You can find Lenya at LenyaQD on twitter. FULL SHOW NOTES Also check out our Episode 109 - Cultural Fire with Margo Robbins, for more great fire information. Links California Prescribed Burn Associations Dixie Fire Scott Stephens - wildfire reconstructions from UC Berkeley UCANR Fire Advisors WTREX - Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges Thanks to Kat Hill for editing help in this episode. Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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May 27 · 17 min
#129: Wide-Angle Listening: How Nature’s Soundtrack Completes Your Connection to the Wild
Have you ever noticed how certain sounds, voices, or songs can instantaneously transport you to another world? Whether it’s a track from high school or the specific creak of a childhood porch, audio has a unique "backdoor" into our deepest memories and emotions. In this episode, we explore how to tap into that same principle to radically deepen our connection to nature. While we are biologically biased to navigate the world through a visual "spotlight," we often miss the 360-degree sanctuary that sound provides. By shifting our focus from looking to listening, we move beyond simple identification and start experiencing nature as a floodlight—an immersive, restorative flood of information that lowers our stress and pulls us directly into the present moment. To explore this invisible landscape, I’m joined by my friend Sue Pelmulder, a birder and audio engineer who learned how to combine these skills and reveal a new connection to nature. Together, we set out on a 5:00 AM "field trip" for the Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance’s annual Birdathon. Using high-end recording gear, including an 18-inch parabolic dish that acts as a "zoom lens for the ears," we captured the hidden details of the California's Diablo Range. From the haunting, prehistoric calls of the Pied-billed Grebe to the singular "water glump" of a diving Western Grebe, this episode is an immersive look at how listening can reveal a world that our eyes alone would have entirely overlooked. Ultimately, this journey isn't just about professional gear or rare species; it’s about the "treasure hunt" and connection to nature available right outside your front door. We discuss how you can get to know your individual neighborhood birds, and why tools like Merlin are leveling the playing field for new observers. Whether you are an experienced birder or someone looking for a "universal reset button" for a tired mind, this conversation with Sue Pelmulder will challenge you to close your eyes, open your ears, and discover nature in a new way. FULL SHOW NOTES with Photos! Birds Appearing in this episode: California Quail, White-throated Swift, Pied-billed Grebe, House Wren, Great-horned Owl, Western Grebe, Violet-Green Swallow, and more! Sue's Recording Gear Telinga Modular Parabolic Collector Warm Audio WA-84 mono microphone with omnidirectional capsule Recording on a Zoom H6 Handy Recorder at 48KHz linear PCM Sony MDR-7506 headphones Other Recording Gear (lower budget) You can purchase "shotgun" microphones that provide some directionality (not as good as a parabola), but they are much more portable and much cheaper. Michael uses a Rode VideoMic Pro. Usually, the longer the shotgun mic, the more directional it is. Zoom also makes smaller and less expensive recorders than the H6 Sue uses. Michael uses an H4N, but Zoom makes other less expensive recorders. Just make sure the connector types match your microphone. For an ultra-portable (and inexpensive!) solution, Michael uses his smartphone and connects the Rode VideoMic Pro using a cable that converts the 1/8" output to a USB-C. Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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April 22 · 58 min
#128: iNaturalist: How Your Photos Save Species: Scott Loarie on iNaturalist and Community Science
Long time listeners know that I’m a huge fan of iNaturalist. Their app literally changed my life by dramatically improving my relationship with, and knowledge of nature. And iNaturalist is much more than just a nature identification app. When you use iNaturalist, yes, you get a helping hand in identifying plants, animals and fungi. But you’re also contributing to perhaps the largest community science dataset on Earth, which starts to get to the heart of iNaturalist’s mission. After our Jumpstart Nature episode on iNaturalist, I received many questions about how iNaturalist works - just how does it know how to ID so many organisms? How are sensitive species, such as rare plants that are subject to poaching, protected? And with the increased concern about the environmental impact of certain types of AI, how does iNaturalist’s AI, called Computer Vision, compare? So who better to answer those questions than Scott Loarie. And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out the Jumpstart Nature Podcast! Episode #5 profiles three creative and inspirational uses of iNaturalist! Be sure to check out the iNaturalist blog and newsletter as well! FULL SHOW NOTES LINKS California Academy of Sciences iNaturalist, their blog, and their newsletter Jumpstart Nature Episode 5 profiles inspiring uses of iNaturalist Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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March 17 · 55 min
#127: Salt Lakes - An Unnatural History with Caroline Tracey
What comes to your mind when you hear “Salt Lake”? If you’re like many people, perhaps you think of the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Or perhaps the Dead Sea or the Caspian Sea. But there are over 100 perennial salt lakes around the globe, and hundreds of seasonal ones. Each of these lakes have amazing histories and support unique ecosystems, making them a precious resource for biodiversity. My guest today is Caroline Tracey, author of the new book “Salt Lakes - An Unnatural History”. Caroline’s book weaves a fascinating ecological story with her own personal narrative, unveiling one of Earth’s most overlooked ecosystems. Today we discuss a few of these amazing stories, and look at the unique life that these lakes support. We also reveal the threats these salt lakes face, and how diminishing water levels not only put many species in peril, but threaten the health of people in nearby communities. But there are success stories, in flight or emerging, for many of these imperiled lakes. You can find Caroline on her website, cetracey.com, on instagram @ce_tracey, and read more of her writing on her substack. FULL SHOW NOTES LINKS Salt Lakes - An Unnatural History - publisher | bookshop.org | amazon Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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February 17 · 49 min
#126: New Hope for Sunflower Sea Stars
Some of the most consistent feedback I get about the podcast is the message of hope that rings through. Today’s episode takes the message of hope up a level by revisiting the folks at the Sunflower Star Lab. Sunflower sea stars are amazing creatures - not your typical sea star. They can reach over three feet, live for decades, they are highly mobile, and function as keystone species in kelp forest systems. Just a little over a decade ago, there were 6 billion of these animals along the pacific coast of North America. Then, they vanished. And the consequences to kelp systems has been dire. But thanks to innovative work at the Sunflower Star Lab, and the numerous partners that they’ve cultivated, things are looking up - and much more quickly than I ever imagined. So last December I made the short trip down to Moss Landing, California, and today I’m sharing my conversation with Reuven Bank and Andrew Kim from the Sunflower Star Lab. They’re here to tell us the full story of the Seastar and why things have taken this turn for the better. You might remember them from episode 104 - even if you listened to that one, I promise you today’s episode is well worth a listen. Check out the Sunflower Star Lab at sunflowerstarlab.org and on Facebook and Instagram. FULL SHOWS NOTES Links Friday Harbor Laboratories Jason Hodin Kelp Watch Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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January 28 · 1 hr
#125: The Plankton of the Land: The Alien World of Aphids with Natalie Hernandez
Imagine a creature that is born already pregnant with its own grandchildren. No mating, no waiting—just a continuous, telescopic unfolding of life. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel, but it’s likely happening on the underside of a leaf in your backyard. Today, we’re looking past the 'pest' label to discover the mind-bending biology of the aphid. Our guest today is aphidologist Natalie Hernandez. If you are on iNaturalist, you might recognize her as one of the most prolific identifiers of aphids. Today we learn about these incredible insects, including why ants tend to aphids like livestock, how telescopic reproduction works, and we investigate why aphids are incredibly important to ecosystems. While a few aphid species can be pests to agriculture, most are critical parts of the food web. I’ve grown to love finding new aphid species when I’m out exploring, and I hope today’s episode will help inspire you to look under a few more leaves this spring and summer. Find Natalie on iNaturalist and instagram! FULL SHOW NOTES LINKS Aphids on the World's Plants - excellent online resource for identifying aphids Thanks to Brook Neely for editing this episode. Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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January 8 · 54 min
#124: The Moving Target of Climate: The Future of Stewardship with Dr. Zac Cannizzo
Land stewards face a constant, high-stakes puzzle: Do you protect a single at-risk species, or do you optimize for total biodiversity? Do you fight to hold back the tide of natural succession, or do you step back and let nature take the lead? Stewardship has always been about trade-offs, but climate change has shifted the very ground we stand on. It’s no longer just about maintaining what we have; it’s about navigating a target that is constantly moving. We are moving past the era of 'restoring the past' and entering an era of 'designing for the future.' In some cases, it may mean accepting that ecosystems we hold dear may permanently change —but it also means we have the tools to ensure they don't lose their soul, their function, or their life-sustaining power. Joining us today is Dr. Zac Cannizzo, a specialist in climate-informed conservation across both marine and terrestrial systems. Zac is here to pull back the curtain on how we manage hope in a warming world. He’ll explain why these shifts are so hard for us to accept, and more importantly, he’ll walk us through the practical framework he uses to help ecosystems thrive, even when the climate says they shouldn't. From the bleaching heat of coral reefs to the migrating treelines of Alaska, Zac shows us that while we can’t stop the wind from changing, we can certainly change how we set the sails. FULL SHOW NOTES Links McHenry County Conservation District Office of National Marine Sanctuaries Climate Vulnerability Assessments Press release about the threatened fish translocation Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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Dec 11, 2025 · 1 hr
#123: A Look at Biodiversity
2025 has been an exciting and diverse year for Jumpstart Nature and Nature's Archive, and to celebrate, we're bringing you a special compilation centered on the critical theme of biodiversity. Today, we look back at two of our most fascinating episodes from the year, featuring species and habitats that are essential—yet often overlooked—components of the global ecosystem. From the subtle, but powerful, impact of a parasitic plant that acts as a keystone species in its habitat to the amazing, unseen diversity thriving in dynamic marine environments, prepare to explore the complex web of life. To round things out, we offer a preview from an upcoming episode focused on the fascinating world of aphids. Often dismissed as simple garden pests, these tiny insects are sometimes called the "plankton of the land" due to their sheer numbers and critical role in the food chain. Join us as we re-listen to the stories of life’s intricate connections and get a tantalizing glimpse into the world of aphids, all through the lens of biodiversity. And thanks so much for being part of our community, and a listener to our podcast! We're excited to share more with you in 2026, covering topics from climate-informed conservation, to exciting discoveries on the road to recovering the sunflower sea star, to incredible aphids (yes, you read that right!), and the ecology of salt lakes. A big thank you to Amelia Heintz-Botz for helping to put today's episode together! FULL SHOW NOTES Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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Nov 11, 2025 · 59 min
#122: Leave the Leaves: Hidden Layers of Benefit with David Mizejewski
If you’ve been following Nature’s Archive for a while, you might be familiar with the idea of “leave the leaves”. It represents one simple act of omission - not raking, blowing, or mulching leaf fall - that is resoundingly positive for the environment. But even if you think you know why leaving the leaves is helpful, I invite you to listen to today’s guest, National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski. If you are unfamiliar with David - let me just tell you his skill and enthusiasm for nature interpretation is second to none. Today, David walks us through all the ways leaves help the environment - and how bagging them up and sending them to a landfill makes a bad situation much worse. We also discuss useful tips for keeping leaves even if you have an HOA or difficult neighbors who might think you are neglecting your space. So if you still have leaves in your yard, please listen and take NWF’s pledge to leave the leaves, and reap the rewards for years to come. Be sure to follow David on instagram, and get David's Book "Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife". FULL SHOW NOTES People and Organizations NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat NWF’s Pledge to Leave the Leaves Books and Other Things Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife - by David Mizejewski Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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Oct 23, 2025 · 1 hr 17 min
Critical Mast: Acorn Woodpeckers and Oak Masting with Dr. Walt Koenig
As a nature lover, I’m often asked about my favorite plants, animals, and insects. And I always struggle to answer those questions, because I have so many favorites, and they are context dependent. But when it comes to birds, woodpeckers often come to mind first. They’re often colorful, charismatic, and have such an amazing set of adaptations that let them drill into trees, excavate insects from bark, and some even fly catch on the wing. One of the most interesting woodpecker species is the Acorn Woodpecker, found in much of the west and southwest. They live in large groups, are loud, have a clown face, and can store thousands of acorns in specially drilled holes that are just acorn sizes. Today’s guest is Dr. Walt Koenig, who has spent several decades studying these birds, in affiliation with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and UC Berkeley. Today we’ll learn about their behaviors, why you don’t find acorn woodpeckers in the east, despite a nice variety of oak trees, and get this - acorns aren’t even their preferred food! Dr. Koenig has studied their breeding behaviors and group compositions, which is perhaps the most fascinating part of the interview, and I can’t do it justice in a short intro - so you’ll just have to listen. And if one studies acorn woodpeckers, it follows that one studies acorns, too. So we also discuss the phenomenon of masting - that is, when oak trees produce bumper crops of acorns, in synchrony across wide geographic ranges! In fact, this past year was a mast year for some oak species in California. So if you are interested in what causes masting, you might want to jump to the last 23 minutes or so of the interview. This re-release of our popular interview with Dr. Koenig is part of a playful exercise in community podcasting, with 6 different shows each producing their own stories about or inspired by the mystery of masting, and releasing them at (approximately) the same time. For other masting stories, check out: Future Ecologies Golden State Naturalist Learning from Nature: The Biomimicry Podcast Jumpstart Nature Outside/In We’ll populate this Spotify playlist with all our stories as they come out! FULL SHOW NOTES Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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Sep 30, 2025 · 50 min
#121: Metamorphosis: The Actor Who Became a Butterfly Scientist - Liam O'Brien
Nearly every great story involves a transformation. In the butterfly world, we call it metamorphosis—the mysterious process where a caterpillar seemingly dissolves itself and is miraculously rebuilt into a creature that takes to the sky. Our guest today is a living parallel to that transformation. Liam O'Brien started his career far from the wild, under the bright lights of the stage as a professional actor. Yet, a shift was coming. At a pivotal time in his life, he traded the scripts and the spotlight for the quiet, meticulous study of winged beauty, stepping into the world of lepidoptery. This pivot wasn't just a career change; it was a profound reawakening. In the precision and fragile beauty of the Bay Area's butterflies, Liam not only found a new scientific passion but he also re-discovered his dormant talent for art. He began documenting his observations with exquisite, original drawings, blending science and creativity in a way only he could. The final form of this incredible journey is his beautifully illustrated Butterflies of the Bay Area - and slightly beyond. Today, Liam discusses what makes butterflies so amazing. We discuss how no matter where you live, there are discoveries to be made. And this interview is so much more than just butterflies. You’ll have to listen to hear the raw, jaw dropping story of what led Liam to this life change. And as you’d expect from a stage actor, Liam is full of charismatic and entertaining stories. And while we get into the details of some specific butterflies and places of the Bay Area, rest assured - there are parallels no matter where you live. You can find Liam at robber_fly on instagram, and check out the show notes for links to Heyday Press and his book. And thanks to Amelia Heintz-Botz for editing help with this episode! FULL SHOW NOTES Butterflies of the Bay Area and (Slightly) Beyond - Liam's beautiful new book ADDITIONAL LINKS Liam's public appearances The Lepidopterists’ Society Books Dangerous World of Butterflies by Peter Laufer Kaufman Field Guide To Butterflies Of North America Related Podcast Episode #46: Paul Johnson - Finding and Counting Butterflies Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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Sep 16, 2025 · 49 min
#120: Just Listen: Amy Martin on the Unheard World Around Us
It was a surprisingly warm late February day. Needing to recharge, I drove to a park near Lincoln, Nebraska. When I arrived, I saw something new on the far side of the reservoir: what looked like massive white and gray boulders, lined up along the length of the dam. Then, in one astonishing moment, all of these boulders lifted out of the water, taking flight simultaneously by the thousands. My mind couldn't make sense of what I was seeing, and then the sound hit me. It was thousands of snow geese, a deafening cacophony of honking and wing flapping that washed over me, cleansing my stress and reinvigorating my spirit. Fast forward 20 years to today. Anytime I see snow geese take flight, I instinctively replay this experience, renewing me yet again. And I have so many of these lived experiences. It’s the magic of sound. Today's guest, Amy Martin, is the creator of the incredible Threshold podcast. The current season, Hark!, is an immersive experience all about listening to the natural world. As the podcast website says, "In this season of Threshold, we investigate what it means to listen to the nonhuman voices on our planet—and the cost if we don't." Today, we'll dive into some of the highlights of the Hark season - ranging from dolphins to tree hopper insects. And we’ll explore how listening is a deeply personal and distinct experience for everyone. I’m incredibly excited to share this episode with you today. You can find the Peabody award winning Threshold podcast on any podcasting app or at thresholdpodcast.org. You can also follow @thresholdpodcast on instagram, Facebook, YouTube - and Amy on her Substack called Letters to Earthlings. FULL SHOW NOTES (with pictures!) Links Find Threshold Podcast at thresholdpodcast.org and follow @thresholdpodcast on instagram Letters to Earthlings - Amy's Substack newsletter Evelyn Glennie Rex Cocroft - the Treehopper acoustics researcher Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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Aug 26, 2025 · 59 min
#119: Are Worms the Solution to Toxic Algal Blooms? Sam Baker from WriggleBrew.
Today's episode is one of the more encouraging and hopeful conversations I've had the pleasure of recording. My guest is Sam Baker, co-founder of WriggleBrew, a company on a mission to combat one of the most insidious environmental issues we face today: toxic algal blooms. These blooms occur globally, devastating everything from our local inland lakes to the vast expanse of the Gulf of Mexico, and even here in the San Francisco Bay, right in my own backyard. They create vast "dead zones" that choke out life, and their leading cause is something you might not expect: synthetic fertilizers. In this episode, Sam and I get into the details of why synthetic fertilizers leave a trail of destruction, and why they've become so deeply ingrained in large-scale farming. We'll explore how Wriggle Brew has developed a game-changing solution by figuring out how to scale up worm casting production into a stable liquid form—a critical breakthrough for sustainable agriculture. And we don't stop there. Did you know that some insect larvae can break down plastics? Sam shares how he and his team are working to replicate that process in bioreactors. It's an inspiring look at how nature and innovation can come together to solve some of our biggest problems. This is a truly fascinating and hopeful discussion, and I can't wait for you to hear it. You can find WriggleBrew and learn more about their work at wrigglebrew.com, and at wrigglebrew on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. FULL SHOW NOTES (with photos!) Related Episodes Gabe Brown: https://naturesarchive.com/2023/06/19/regenerative/ Elaine Ingham: https://naturesarchive.com/2022/02/07/soil/ LINKS WriggleBrew.com The Soil Triangle (texture) Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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Aug 5, 2025 · 1 hr
#118: Does Science Communication Have Room for Emotion and Complexity? – Jocelyn Bosley's Approach
From the intricate dance of an ecosystem to the ripple effects of a warming planet, nature's stories are rarely simple. But in a world that craves quick, easy answers, how do we get people to lean in and listen to the full story? And how do we do that without glossing over the complexity and nuance of the situation? Today, we're getting a masterclass in just that with Jocelyn Bosley, a science communicator and Research Impact Coordinator at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She'll walk us through how to move beyond simple explanations and get people excited about the deeper stories in the natural world. We’ll dig into specific examples, like how a warming Indian Ocean can affect asthma rates in the Caribbean, and we'll even challenge the idea that scientists must be objective and emotionless. This is an episode for anyone who wants to share their passion for nature and science—with anyone. FULL SHOW NOTES LINKS Born On A Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant, by Daniel Tammet Consilience, by E.O. Wilson Consilience Journal - science poetry Entangled: a collaboration across time and space - Jocelyn's poetry appears in this book Funsize Physics Galactic Polymath SciJourneys Rose Bear Don’t Walk, Ethnobotanist Strange Days on Planet Earth - Learn more about the Indian Ocean story, or watch on YouTube Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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Jul 16, 2025 · 49 min
#117: Angry Activist, Rural Landowner: Finding Common Ground for Nature
Have you ever found it tough to talk about big issues, especially when people already have strong ideas? In the world of nature and climate, we often see communication that feels more like telling people what to do, or how to think. It's easy for us all to dig in our heels, even if we're wrong, and shut down new ideas. Today, we're exploring a different path. -- Griff: I was very radical and had really bad ecological depression because was from the Bay Area and watched all my favorite places get destroyed. So I was, you know, really felt like the only thing left to do was to fight. And that's where I was at at 18, 19, 20. Pretty much all the way until 23, I was in a very radical mind state. Mostly angry and depressed. -- That's Griff Griffith, someone many of you know as a passionate environmental communicator and a key collaborator with Jumpstart Nature. Like many, Griff once felt that fighting and lecturing were the only ways to defend the places he loved. But a surprising encounter on a work site with a farmer named Pops changed everything. Griff realized that truly saving biodiversity needed a different approach. Today, Griff shares his remarkable personal transformation, revealing the power of nuance in communication and how embracing a different approach can yield incredible results for nature. It's a candid and thought-provoking conversation we can all learn from. We also dive into how even dandelions can have a surprising place in conservation—another vivid example of how our perspectives can evolve. Because this conversation embodies the spirit of both our shows, I'm excited to release it on both the Nature's Archive and Jumpstart Nature feeds! If you're listening on Nature's Archive, know that Jumpstart Nature usually takes you on an immersive journey into thought-provoking topics that help you save biodiversity. And if you're on the Jumpstart Nature feed, Nature's Archive brings you deep-dive interviews with top minds in ecology, biodiversity, and nature more broadly. Get ready, because this summer we're gearing up for many new episodes across both feeds! Our new team of volunteers is hard at work, and we already have several amazing interviews recorded that I can't wait to share with you. For now, let’s lean in for Griff's truly inspirational story of personal transformation. FULL SHOW NOTES Links Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Bringing Nature Home – by Doug Tallamy Homegrown National Park Nature’s Best Hope – by Doug Tallamy, Dr. Tallamy’s 2020 release Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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Jun 19, 2025 · 44 min
#116: Iconic Joshua Trees with Barret Baumgart
The Joshua Tree is perhaps only rivaled by the saguaro cactus as the icon of the desert southwest. Featured on U2’s classic album cover, and now the backdrop of countless instagram glamor shots, its unique, almost alien look is unmistakable. But for decades the Joshua Tree was looked at with disdain - even loathing and hatred. Today, our guest is Barret Baumgart, author of the new book, “Yuck: The Birth & Death of the Weird & Wondrous Joshua Tree”. Barret explores the history of the Joshua Tree, in a book that can be considered part history, part natural history, part cultural criticism, and part ecology. Today, we delve into the strange and winding tail of the Joshua Tree and its history of evading human preconceptions and assumptions. Living on the edge, it faces a potentially bleak future, but perhaps it will thwart us once again, against all odds. Be sure to check out Barret on instagram, and on his Substack called Dumpster Fires. FULL SHOW NOTES LINKS Barret's Website, including speaking engagements Buy YUCK - The Birth & Death of the Weird & Wondrous Joshua Tree, Yucca brevifolia from bookshop.org Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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May 27, 2025 · 44 min
#115: Pollinator Friendly Yards with Leslie Inman
We love native plants and habit-friendly yards at Nature's Archive, and I have a few exciting updates from my yard: spoiler: native plants are working! And stay tuned for a re-air of a classic episode with Leslie Inman from Pollinator Friendly Yards. There are plenty of useful insights for both habitat-friendly yard practices, and community building. Afterall, we need everyone to not only take action, but spread the word. And we have new episodes around the corner, too. It's been incredibly busy these last couple of months, so thanks for your patience as we work to keep all of the proverbial plates spinning! On to the episode... I started Nature’s Archive podcast in an effort to understand the stories of people making a difference for the environment. I needed to be inspired, wanted to learn how they did it, and share that inspiration and knowledge with anyone willing to listen. While we haven’t strayed too far from those initial aspirations, I do have many more topic-centric episodes than I did at the start. Today’s episode is a “back to my roots” episode. My guest is Leslie Inman, the founder of the wildly popular Pollinator Friendly Yards group on Facebook. With 184,000 members, it is perhaps the top spot for people to discuss sustainable personal landscaping. And even if you are not on Facebook, it’s pretty likely you’ve seen her images and infographics. Leslie’s story is an amazing example of how a little curiosity can be converted into a hugely impactful movement. Today, we discuss not only how the group formed, but the lessons that she has learned along the way. This includes how to “reach” people who may be skeptical about inviting insects to their yards, how to make it easy to get started, and more. Leslie also has two books - Your Yard is Nature and The Butterfly Egg and the Little Tree. FULL SHOW NOTES Links Pollinator Friendly Yards Dave Goulson Doug Tallamy & Homegrown National Park (TikTok) Doug Tallamy appeared on Nature's Archive Podcast Episode #26 Leslie’s Books - Your Yard is Nature and The Butterfly Egg and the Little Tree Mary Reynolds, We Are The Ark Nancy Lawson, The Humane Gardener [Book] Travis Longcore (light pollution ecologist) Wild Ones Support Us On Patreon! Buy our Merch! Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com Help us hire our first Podcast Producer - Donate Here! Discover the Jumpstart Nature Podcast - entertaining and immersive, it's the nature fix we all need. Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!
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