Einstein stated, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." This idea came to Jackie's mind during her conversation with the ever awesome Dan Wildcat at WILD12. He talks about "the age of the Anthropocene"—a time when humans see themselves as the center of everything. And here we are, facing human-caused environmental crises, thinking once again that it’s our role to fix things in the same manner we’ve done in the past. Dan’s got something to say about that mindset. He says this isn’t about fixing—it’s about healing. If we can step away from this self-centered way of thinking, we might begin to rebuild a connection with nature—a relationship rooted in kinship and respect, where we understand that we’re part of a much larger family. In today’s episode, we’re diving into these ideas and so much more with Dan. For those who don’t know him, Dan Wildcat is a Yuchi member of the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma and a passionate advocate for bringing Indigenous wisdom to the fight against climate change. Before listening to the episode, please consider supporting our work at WILD.org (http://WILD.org), which allows us to dedicate time to creating these conversations for you. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How can Indigenous communities be better supported in addressing wildlife diseases? This question has inspired Avery’s work. Avery, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, is working to bring together veterinary science and Indigenous knowledge by partnering with tribal nations on wildlife health research that’s collaborative and community-driven. Having grown up in his tribal community, Avery saw that while many tribes in the U.S. have natural resource departments focused on wildlife protection, they often lack the veterinary expertise needed to tackle wildlife diseases. His goal is to become one of the first tribal wildlife veterinarians, combining these two fields to help tribes protect their ecosystems. Before listening to the episode, please consider supporting our work at WILD.org (http://WILD.org), which allows us to dedicate time to creating these conversations for you. Connect with Avery: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avery-tilley-5a2095197/ Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Hinano was born on the atoll of Vairaatea located in the central-eastern part of the Tuamotu islands of Tahiti. She is the President of the Association Te Pu Atitia and the Cultural Director of Tetiaroa Society. Growing up, her language and traditions were a huge part of her life. They inspired her to teach and fight for the environment and her people’s culture. In this episode, Hinano shares memories of her grandmother’s stories and the lessons she learned from fishing with her father. These moments shaped her life and the mission she carries forward. Before listening to the episode, please consider supporting our work at WILD.org (http://WILD.org), which allows us to dedicate time to creating these conversations for you. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Today, we’re diving into the power of artificial intelligence, AI, and environmental stewardship. Because, let’s face it, it’s all the rage and we need to address this topic. It’s no secret that AI is growing quickly. While it has been around for decades, it is now playing a bigger role in our lives. What does this mean for conservation? What does wilderness mean to AI, and how is AI affecting it? These are the questions Robert Dvorak explores in his article ‘Missing the Forest for the Algorithm’ in the latest issue of the International Journal of Wilderness, the IJW. Wilderness is so much more than just biodiversity–it’s a safe place for wildlife, a space for us to recharge and reconnect to our roots, and a source of well-being. As AI becomes more involved in conservation, it can offer valuable insights and increase awareness. But could it end up simplifying nature’s story too much? What if it unintentionally supports and disseminates incorrect ideas or theories, changing how we perceive wilderness and the policies that protect it? Can it capture the wilderness experience that is truly human? Before listening to the episode, please consider supporting our work at WILD.org (http://WILD.org), which allows us to dedicate time to creating these conversations for you. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Welcome to the special Voices of Wilderness episodes covering WILD12. Jackie, your host, takes you behind the scenes at WILD12, where she met remarkable people dedicated to protecting nature every day. One of these inspiring individuals is Laura Yawanawá. Laura and her husband, Tashka Yawanawá, lead the Yawanawá people in Acre, Brazil, where they developed a Life Plan to sustain their culture, protect their forest, and counter illegal logging, mining, and ranching. It was incredible to meet them, especially as WILD.org (http://WILD.org) has now been working closely with them for years now. In this episode, we are excited to explore Laura's journey as an Indigenous woman and leader, the concept of 'conservation' from an Indigenous perspective, and the essential role of Indigenous women in caring for the land. Before listening to the episode, please consider supporting our work at WILD.org (http://WILD.org), which allows us to dedicate time to creating these conversations for you. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Welcome to the special Voices of Wilderness episodes covering WILD12. Today we’re going behind the scenes at WILD12, where we met remarkable people dedicated to protecting nature every day. One of these amazing individuals is Jaime Rojo. You might remember him from a previous episode a few months ago, but here he is again–as I met him in person for the first time during the congress! Jaime is a photographer and National Geographic Explorer. His most recent project, Monarchs on the Brink, is a captivating visual exploration of monarch butterflies, highlighting the challenges they face and introducing the people committed to their protection. We didn’t post this episode at random; Jaime is a friend of WILD.org (http://WILD.org), and today is World Wildlife Conservation Day. Who better than him to share his passion for wildlife and represent the work being done in its protection? Enjoy this episode, where we prepared some games to get to know him better and in which he will talk about storytelling, science communication, protecting Half, 30by30, and many other topics! Connect with Jaime: https://www.instagram.com/jaimerojo/ Learn more about WILD: www.wild.org (http://www.wild.org)  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Today we’re going behind the scenes at WILD12, where we met remarkable people dedicated to protecting nature every day. One of these inspiring individuals is Joey Montoya, from the Lipan Apache Indigenous Peoples. Joey is a multimedia artist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur, and the Founder and CEO of Urban Native Era (https://urbannativeera.com/), a fashion brand focused on elevating Indigenous visibility through fashion and design. In this episode, we’ll dive into his journey, the creation of his brand, and his impactful work to increase the visibility of Indigenous peoples. Learn more about Urban Native Era: https://urbannativeera.com/ Learn more about WILD: www.wild.org (http://www.wild.org)  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Change often begins with recognizing a problem, but what happens next? If you’ve been following our WILD12 journey and our social media, you've probably heard us talk about resolutions. But what exactly are resolutions, and what impact do they have? If you're asking yourself this question, you're not alone. In today’s episode, Jackie is joined by two colleagues from WILD.org: Amy Lewis, CEO, and Maddy Miller, Development and Administrative Associate. Together, they’ll unpack the power of resolutions—what they are, how they work, why they matter—and share a concrete example from Maddie’s experience at WILD12, where she helped create a resolution calling for a ban on clear-cutting boreal forests in Sápmi. Learn more about WILD: www.wild.org (http://www.wild.org)  Endorse WILD12 resolutions and be part of the change: https://wild.org/wild12/resolutions/ Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Today, we’re joined by Lillian Bosch, who made the leap from tech to conservation, inspired by her journey into motherhood. Lillian advocates for nature-based solutions to climate change and plays a vital role in our new Sámi-led rewilding project! For those unfamiliar, the Sápmi region spans northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia, home to the semi-nomadic Sámi, Indigenous reindeer herders. This vast land is covered by boreal forest, which makes up 62% of the area and is essential to Sámi culture, influencing their food, clothing, and traditions. However, the decline of the forest and the reindeer population poses a serious threat to the Sámi way of life. The boreal forest is not only a complex ecosystem but also the world's second-largest above-ground carbon sink, containing 22% of the carbon stored on Earth's land. Conserving Sápmi is crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate change. Tune in to hear Lillian share her inspiring journey and her important partnership with the Sámi community! Learn more about WILD: www.wild.org (http://www.wild.org)  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Today, we’re joined by Lillian Bosch, who made the leap from tech to conservation, inspired by her journey into motherhood. Lillian advocates for nature-based solutions to climate change and plays a vital role in our new Sámi-led rewilding project! For those unfamiliar, the Sápmi region spans northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia, home to the semi-nomadic Sámi, Indigenous reindeer herders. This vast land is covered by boreal forest, which makes up 62% of the area and is essential to Sámi culture, influencing their food, clothing, and traditions. However, the decline of the forest and the reindeer population poses a serious threat to the Sámi way of life. The boreal forest is not only a complex ecosystem but also the world's second-largest above-ground carbon sink, containing 22% of the carbon stored on Earth's land. Conserving Sápmi is crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate change. Tune in to hear Lillian share her inspiring journey and her important partnership with the Sámi community! Learn more about WILD: www.wild.org (http://www.wild.org)  Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.