Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant: Purpose, Presence, and Redefining Who Belongs in the Wild

In this powerful and expansive conversation, Monica Wisdom sits down with Rae Wynn-Grant, a scientist, storyteller, and history-maker whose work is reshaping how we see both nature and ourselves.

As the first Black woman to host Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, Dr. Wynn-Grant is stepping into a space that has long excluded women who look like her and redefining what leadership in the field can look like.

Her journey is both grounded and far-reaching.

From her early years in San Francisco and Norfolk to conducting research in some of the most remote environments in the world, she has built a career rooted in curiosity, discipline, and purpose. In her memoir, WILD LIFE: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World, she offers a deeper look at the path that brought her here and the challenges she navigated along the way.

This conversation moves beyond career milestones and into what it takes to persist in spaces where you are often the only one.

Dr. Wynn-Grant shares the realities of her work, the importance of representation in science and media, and the connection between identity, belonging, and the natural world. She speaks candidly about forging a path that did not exist and what it means to claim space with both confidence and clarity.

At its core, this episode is about access. To opportunity, to environment, and to the idea that the world is larger than what we have been shown.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Becoming the first Black woman to host a major wildlife television series
• The journey from city life to global ecological research
• Navigating fields where representation has been limited
• The role of storytelling in science and public engagement
• The connection between identity, belonging, and the natural world
• Building a career rooted in purpose and long-term impact

Key Takeaways:

• You can build a path even when one does not exist
• Representation expands what others believe is possible
• Purpose requires both persistence and clarity
• The natural world belongs to everyone, not a select few
• Your presence in a space can shift how it evolves

About Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant

Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is a wildlife ecologist, author, and television host known for her research and storytelling at the intersection of science, conservation, and culture. Her memoir, WILD LIFE: Finding My Purpose in an Untamed World, reflects her journey navigating identity and purpose while building a global career in ecology and media.

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