Episodes

  • Science vs Policy- Future of the Mexican Wolf with David Parsons

    Science vs Policy- Future of the Mexican Wolf with David Parsons
    May 9 2022
    The saga of the Mexican Grey Wolf is about how politics interfere in the efforts of independent scientists to recover an endangered species. With my guest David Parsons, who formerly led the USFWS efforts to reintroduce the Mexican Grey Wolf to the American Southwest in 1990-to 99, we learn how difficult it is to reintroduce a species and save it from extinction when powerful vested interests who control legislators hijack the policy process down to even the scientific modeling results for how many wolves are needed to recover the species. The problem for these wolves is that all of the critical states for reintroduction reject accepting the number of wolves necessary for true recovery. But this lack of political tolerance for wolves in our government is not reflective of the general public and is a result of a subset of society that controls our decision-makers. As David explains, we have a huge political fight ahead to save this iconic animal that once roamed by the thousands.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Wicked Problems with Ashwell Glasson

    Wicked Problems with Ashwell Glasson
    May 2 2022
    Today, with Ashwell Glasson, we address deep-seated Wicked Problems as a root cause of civil unrest and social disruptions that are occurring globally, as a result of unrestrained economic growth leading to environmental problems. We gain an understanding that we cannot isolate environmental issues to a specific region as they have far-reaching effects and lead to interconnected series of problems on national and global scales. We must break our cycle of short-term thinking and pushing problems off, as we are only going to see more “day zero’s” with less and fewer resources. These underlying wicked problems permeate the globe and it is time for deep-seated reforms – politically and socially, nationally and internationally, economically and environmentally, and the normalization of the abnormal breakdown of civil society. It’s time to face up to our collective human responsibilities and address these issues.
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    56 mins
  • OS X World Version Update Conservation 2.0 with Ashwell Glasson

    OS X World Version Update Conservation 2.0 with Ashwell Glasson
    Apr 25 2022
    Today’s conversation with my guest Ashwell Glasson gives provides us with a view of the scale and scope of the challenges we are facing in securing biodiversity. What is being called for is an overhaul of the current models and mindsets driving conservation efforts in global landscapes under multiple pressures, including transnational wildlife crime at unprecedented levels. For the sake of frame of reference, our discussion is focused on rhino conservation as it holds markers of all that is changing and is at stake. The conversation takes multiple twists and turns as we unravel layers and identify the players toward a new world vision that can redefine the benchmark of health and wealth in passing the torch to new generations. Rather than a revision of what doesn’t work; solutions that resonate and engender cross-cultural participation at all levels of society, are augmented with new tool kits and skillsets for a holistic–earth one-health operating system.
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    58 mins
  • Rhino Gold: Killing For Profit, with Julian Rademeyer

    Rhino Gold: Killing For Profit, with Julian Rademeyer
    Apr 18 2022
    Join us today with special guest, investigative journalist Julian Rademeyer as we discuss his book Killing For Profit, which reads like an international thriller, but is a terrifying true story of greed, corruption, and ruthless criminal enterprise centered around the illegal trafficking of rhino horn and wildlife. This is a compelling, meticulous and revelatory account of one the worlds most secretive trades aiding in the decimation of one of our world’s unique endangered species, the Rhino. Since publication, Mr. Rademeyer attended the CITES 2013 in Bangkok, reporting first hand the human folly and convoluted international conservation policies, politics, players and loopholes which undermine the global efforts to save the rhino from extinction.
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    58 mins
  • Rewilding Our Hearts with Marc Bekoff

    Rewilding Our Hearts with Marc Bekoff
    Mar 15 2021
    Rewilding has long been a conservation term for connectivity and creating corridors for wildlife movement. In recent decades, it is the concept finding suitable existing habitats for species on the brink of extinction that may exist outside of where they currently live or are being extirpated. Today there is a new meaning. My guest Marc Bekoff, discusses his book, ‘Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence’. Rewilding in this sense brings us to an understanding if not to undo, at least find ways to fix what we’ve done, to transform and rehabilitate ourselves. From pandemic and covid-19 in 2020 and into another difficult year of 2021, we all can use a reminder and a primer of compassion 101, how to reconnect with ourselves, each other and to embrace compassionate co-existence with our wild world and all its magnificence to turn from policies of tearing apart toward pathways of re-imagination, re-enchantment and redefine what we is possible. We have a lot of work to do to rebuild our connections to each other, find a unity amongst ourselves, and a beneficial place in rewilding our hearts and minds.
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    58 mins
  • The Missing Links with Brian Czech, CASSE

    The Missing Links with Brian Czech, CASSE
    Feb 8 2021
    Despite the incredible successes in conservation, overall, something isn’t working. We are losing ground. What are the missing links? Delving deeply into this question, we keep butting up against the fundamental conflicts between economic growth and wildlife conservation. With my guest Brian Czech, we tackle this subject head-on., Brian documented the causes of species endangerment for US Fish and Wildlife Services only to have his findings squelched as a taboo subject in any conversation in government where politicians and officials are committed to growth as a policy goal, but also in NGOs and conservation groups. Brian retired from USFW and founded the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy (CASSE) and published a candid and open letter, “Farewell to FWS – Goodbye to Gag Orders” In today's full world economy” we must instill the public economic policy makers toward a full tilt transition from unsustainable growth to a steady state economy. Rebroadcast from 2018
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • A Wild Idea- A look back at where we started

    A Wild Idea- A look back at where we started
    Jan 4 2021
    A Wild Idea: It is easy to think that conservation is something going on in places so far away and exotic that it seems unimaginable that one person could have any significant impact on the greater outcome of a child, a community or even an entire species. This is an encore of our very first episode, the goal to help folks understand and learn about the big picture of what is involved in making conservation happen, and provide a platform to engage listeners to speak up about what is important to you, and how individuals can get involved in making a difference for your life and our future as a whole through a variety of conservation challenges such as climate change, poverty and disease, along with practical tips that you can implement at home in living with and enjoying the wildlife in your back yard. We want you to participate in Our Wild World. Since 2012 this podcast has provided expert outlooks of where we've been, and where we need to be, as we enter into this new year of 2021
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    56 mins
  • Encore Game Changer with Glen Martin

    Encore Game Changer with Glen Martin
    Dec 21 2020
    Are conserving wildlife and protecting animals the same thing? Award winning environmental reporter, Glen Martin, guides us as this question applies to Africa's mega fauna. Conservation planning of large landscapes and species survival includes the cascades of biodiversity that depend upon them. Animal rights, animal activists, and animal welfare consider each individual life as critical, and that none should die because of us. Animal rights restrictions present a challenging paradox for making long-term species survival and large landscape conservation, workable. Through one-on-one conversations with legendary figures throughout Africa’s game management history in wildlife rich range states from E Africa to S.West Africa, Glen's book “Game Changer” originally aired here in 2014 vividly demonstrates, even 6 years on, how our world's last great populations of wildlife are hostages in the battle between those who love them, those who kill them and those who want to save them.
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    57 mins