Everything began with a plan by U.S. fossil fuel companies in Texas to export natural gas to the vast markets of China.  But instead of building expensive infrastructure through the U.S., developers looked south, proposing an almost 500-mile/800-kilometer pipeline starting in Guadalupe, Chihuahua, cutting across the deserts of Chihuahua and Sonora, and ending at the northern edge of the Sea of Cortéz. There, the plan includes building a massive liquefaction plant and an industrial port to handle 300-meter-long/almost 1,000 feet long methane tankers—carrying up to 15 million tons of liquefied natural gas every year to China, South Korea, Japan, and the broader Asian market. Now, there are a lot of issues with all of this but today we’re going to be focusing on one that’s relevant to our work: the protection of irreplaceable biodiversity.  The gas-carrying tankers that would be traveling up and down the Sea of Cortez are blazing through one of the most fragile and biologically rich marine environments on the planet. This sea, stretching 1,000 miles, is home to 39% of the world’s marine mammal species. It’s where whales mate, calve, and raise their young in the warm, calm waters. Dolphins, porpoises, and hundreds of fish species depend on this sanctuary—about 90% of which are found nowhere else on Earth.  So this brings us to today’s guest, Beatriz Padilla, wilderness advocate and painter. She has embarked on an extremely brave hunger strike to oppose the relentless passage of tankers through one of the planet’s most vital marine ecosystems. Beatriz is a longtime friend of ours at WILD.org (http://WILD.org), and we’re proud to stand with her in protecting wild lands. In this episode, we dive into her mission—and how she’s using her art and her body to defend the wild. 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. How to support Beatriz: Financial support: Contribute to the campaign's expenses via GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/37f468ff Sign the petition: Add your voice to the Avaaz campaign: https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/mexico_whales_and_tankers_1_3/ Follow and share the Whales or Gas campaign: https://whalesorgas.org/ Spread the word on social media using hashtags #WhalesOrGas #ProtectMexicoWhales Learn more about the project: https://beatrizpadilla.org/vocesdeloceanoenglish.html Follow the campaign on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beatrizpadillaartistavisual/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatrizpadillaartistavisual/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeatrizPadilla-j6b Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Picture this: a vast, untouched wilderness stretching across the horizon–a land so pristine it feels like it’s been frozen in time. It’s almost hard to put words to such a place, it’s truly like another planet. This wilderness, specifically in Utah, is home to some of the last wild lands in the lower 48 of the United States, with ecosystems that help regulate our planet’s climate but sadly, it’s under constant threat. Mining companies, extractive industries, and high traffic tourism are moving in, trying to use the land for profit. These activities don’t just harm the land–they endanger fragile ecosystems that take centuries to heal. In Utah, where the wilderness is vast and breathtaking, the danger of these practices spreading is all too real. But there is hope.People like Chris Ricardo, today’s guest, a regional organizer for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (https://suwa.org/), are working hard to protect these lands. These folks are on the front lines of very real battles to protect some of the most precious places - raising awareness, pushing for laws like the America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and getting support from people all over the country. In this episode, Chris talks about why these wilderness areas are so valuable–they belong to all of us. He explains how ordinary people can make a real difference, and why protecting these places really matters. He also shares the important work being done by Indigenous groups, like the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, who are fighting to protect sacred lands for future generations. The threats are serious, but if we all work together, we can protect these wild places. Chris and others are leading the way–now it’s up to us to follow the path they’re blazing. 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.

A UNESCO World Heritage site in the Indian Ocean and home to over 400 endemic species, the Aldabra Atoll, is on the brink of destruction. A proposed luxury development has threatened its fragile ecosystem, and despite scientific arguments and official interventions, nothing has stopped the Seychelloix government from proceeding with this project. Nothing seemed to get their attention. In the end, it wasn’t data or diplomacy that began turning the tide for Aldabra, it was storytelling. Today’s guests, Celina Chien, conservationist, journalist, and founder of Overstories (https://overstories.org/), and Victoria Duthil, a Seyhelloix scientist-turned-advocate dedicated to protecting her home’s biodiversity have both been instrumental in the Friends of Aldabra (https://www.friendsofaldabra.org/) movement, which has harnessed the power of narratives to inspire action. In this new podcast episode, we’re exploring the intersection of storytelling, culture, and conservation. How often have cold facts failed to move you, yet a story changed everything? Why does that happen? How can you use storytelling as a force for change? And how can young, powerful voices shape the future of conservation? 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.

Global conservation policy can feel complex: What are these big events, and why do they matter? COPs, Conventions of Parties, and member-only congresses—these spaces can seem intimidating, filled with jargon, fancy terms, and big players.  You can often find yourself lost, not only in understanding what they mean, but in grasping how they work and, more importantly, what is your place in them is as an individual who cares about the planet.  And sometimes, they can feel so slow, right? The urgency of what’s happening is clear, but the slow-moving wheels of decision-making often don’t seem to match the pressing need for action. Despite this, these events remain crucial in shaping environmental policy on a global scale. With the climate and biodiversity crises at the forefront, these gatherings bring together not just scientists and policymakers, but also Indigenous and local communities—groups often overlooked, yet whose voices are key in driving meaningful change. Today, with WILD.org (http://WILD.org) friends Yen Parico (https://www.linkedin.com/in/yenparico/), Program Director of CoalitionWILD (https://wild.org/coalitionwild/) at WILD.org (http://WILD.org), and Aiita Joshua Apamaku (https://www.linkedin.com/in/aiita-joshua-apamaku-5a6a3a134/), Wildlife Biologist and NatGeo Explorer, we’re diving into the importance of these conventions, how they shape the global conservation agenda, and how we, as individuals, can engage with the outcomes. 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.

Wilderness seems like an innate, normal, natural concept. ‘Wilderness is the story of the planet.’ That’s what Chad Dawson, today’s guest, says at least. Wilderness is also the story of humanity. Yet, here we are, forgetting our roots and how to live in conjunction with the land. So, how did we get here? In this episode, we dive into wilderness management with Chad Dawson, retired professor and key figure behind the Wilderness Management (5th edition that is) textbook—a comprehensive guide that’s shaped how we understand and preserve our wildest lands. With decades of experience in natural resource management, Chad unpacks the complexities of wilderness—not just as protected spaces, but as interconnected ecosystems with stories that span time. How do we preserve these landscapes for future generations? What does it mean to "manage" wilderness without interfering with its natural processes? And how can we learn from ancestral and traditional knowledge to do so? Join us as Chad guides us through the evolution of wilderness management, balancing human development with ecological preservation, and the vital role of education and research. What began in 1978 as an effort to define wilderness preservation has blossomed into global conversation—and today, we’re continuing that journey. 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. Order the 5th Edition of Wilderness Management from Waveland Press: https://www.waveland.com/browse.php?t=802 Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The world is hurting. People are hurting. We see it every day, all around us. It’s almost inescapable in the news. Ancestral knowledge is fading because of modern ways of life. But within these wounds, there is healing—ancient wisdom, strength, really a way back to wholeness. “The medicine is in the wound.” Ariel’s words that have stuck with Jackie since her conversation with her. A reminder that healing doesn’t come from ignoring pain but instead comes from facing it and tending to what is broken. To find our humanity again, we must first look at what has been lost. This is not an easy path. It requires us to listen. It’s about remembering the wisdom we were told to leave behind. It is about imagining a world where stewarding nature isn’t about control. The wound is open. The medicine is readily available but the real question is, are we ready to heal? This is just the very tip of the iceberg of Jackie's conversation with Ariel Clark, an enrolled tribal citizen of the Grand Traverse Band of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. Through her mother’s family, she also carries Northern European, Scandinavian, French, Irish, and Scottish ancestry—an experience that has helped her understand what it means to live between two worlds. Through her journey, Ariel has learned what connects us as humans and where we need to look to find our shared humanity—for the good of our future. 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 Ariel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariel-clark-97366a3/  Ariel's sources: The Psychedelic Bar Association: Law & Ethics Series, The Psychedelics Industry & Indigenous Peoples (https://thepsychedelicbar.org/law-ethics-the-psychedelics-industry-indigenous-peoples-a-pba-four-part-series/) Roots To Sky Sanctuary https://www.rootstosky.net/ Life Comes From It https://www.lifecomesfromit.org/ Nokomis Cultural Heritage Center https://nokomis.org/ Water Song https://youtu.be/ks5IIzYX3t8?list=PLWSo5XdPnV6wN9UcvokmhWFDDInlErONf Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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.