Golden State Naturalist

Are you making New Year's resolutions this year? Mine are a little unconventional. Find out what they are and get to know two incredible advocates for public land, Anders Reynolds and Bill Hodge of The Wild Idea Podcast, on this special bonus episode. And of course remember to check out The Wild Idea Podcast as soon as you're done listening here. Happy New Year, friends!

We need every single species of native tree here in California, but our 20+ varieties of native oaks are the most crucial of all. In this episode, join me and my guest, Zarah Wyly, on a walk through a relatively new oak woodland in Folsom dotted with two ancient, magnificent oak trees. Learn the story of how this unusual woodland came to be, find out why oaks are my all-time favorite trees, and explore such questions as: What kinds of life are supported by oak trees? If I plant one, will it wreck my house? What do you have to do to acorns to make them edible? Why does it look like some oak trees are growing apples? How do oaks spread such heavy seeds? What kinds of variety is there among different oak species? What does any of this have to do with the Declaration of Independence?And here's a handy list of the other podcasts participating in Critical Mast! Future EcologiesJumpstart Nature Nature's Archive Learning from Nature: The Biomimicry PodcastOutside/InOk, get ready for a lot of links. Here you goooooo! The Declaration of Independence and the Hand of Time The Nature of Oaks, by Douglas Tallamy National Resources Conservation Service Resource on GrazingSecrets of the Oak Woodlands, by Kate Marianchild Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall KimmererCity Nature Challenge Sacramento Tree Foundation Calscape (to help with planting natives!) Daniel Airola's research on bird diversity in urban forests The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and it can be found here. Follow me on Instagram @goldenstatenaturalistMy website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com You can find me on Patreon here. Episode photo by Bendp

Can cities be good for wildlife? Or at least not so bad? What changes would we need to make to welcome more life into our cities? How would those changes impact humans? What are other cities already trying? Come with me and Kat Superfisky to the largest city in California, where we discuss all of this and so much more. Note: This interview was recorded in September of 2024, so any references to the Federal government are references to the government during the Biden Administration. Helpful Links: Kat’s website Content Creation for NatureSupport Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month. Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠. My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠. Get podcast Merch. The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

California is one of only 36 Global Biodiversity Hotspots. This means that we have incredible species richness with at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species. But here's the bummer. In order to be considered a Global Biodiversity hotspot, a place must also be threatened. So threatened, in fact, that it must have only 30% or less of its original natural vegetation remaining. Oof. Thankfully, Californians are not sitting idly by waiting for the rest of our biodiversity to disappear. Across the state, conservation leaders, on both small and large scales, are pulling together and protecting the places that matter to us most. In this special episode, come with me behind the scenes of this year's 30x30 Partnership Summit to talk with those leaders, hear about some of today's most inspiring conservation success stories, and discover how you can be part of the movement to protect California for generations to come. Helpful Links: 30x30 Official Website Valérie Courtois's TED Talk Carr Lake in Salinas Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.  My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.  Get podcast Merch.  The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠. Otter photo by Kedar Gadge on Unsplash.

Descend with me and LA's first ever urban ecologist into the concrete channel of the Los Angeles River as we discuss novel ecosystems, eminent domain, Greased Lightnin', flood prevention, Ice Cube, soft bottoms, emerald necklaces, and why the LA River is the perfect microcosm of everything LA was, is, and one day could be. Helpful Links: Kat’s website Jason Wise's websiteJuan Crespi’s journal CalMatters LAPD Helicopters article Grease Filming Locations Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month. Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠. My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠. Get podcast Merch. The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

Chances are, you’ve never seen our state amphibian in the wild. In this episode, find out how the California red-legged frog became so rare while also delving into international border crossings with endangered frog eggs, urban drool, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, things that can fit into a bullfrog’s mouth, and the essential mindset shift that might just change the world. Join me and Brad Hollingsworth from the San Diego Natural History Museum as we discuss all of this and so much more. Links: Trivia Night! Join me in-person on May 12th or online on May 27th for Quiz for a Cause, a fundraiser to help rebuild the Eaton Canyon Nature Center. And check out the silent auction here! Saving the California red-legged frog from extinctionFAUNO: Fanua del Noroeste. Learn more about the work in Mexico or sign up for a workshop. ECOS information on red-legged frog federal listing  Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month. Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠. My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠. Get podcast Merch. The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.Episode cover photo courtesy of the San Diego Natural History Museum.

How can listening deepen our relationship with place? What do birds think about highway noise? Is that ice bridge safe to cross at this time of year? How can I learn to listen more closely? Join me and Fil Corbitt as we snowshoe down the Eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in search of a handmade desk and a place to listen to flowing water, to birdsong, to each other, and to the ever-changing landscape itself. Links: Fil's podcast is called The Wind. Check out their Coyote episode. "Birdsongs alleviate anxiety and paranoia in healthy participants"Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month. Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠. My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠. Get podcast Merch. The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

What do cacti and rare pines have in common? What’s a paleoendemic? Do pinecones have teeth? Why do so many different plant species live in Mediterranean climates? Join me and Jon Rebman as we go behind the scenes of the San Diego Natural History Museum, explore the herbarium, and discuss the rarest pine species in North America. Links: San Diego Natural History MuseumUniversity of California Museum of PaleontologyCool study about redwood leavesInfo about Torrey pines and bark beetlesSupport Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month. Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠. My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠. Get podcast Merch. The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

Have you ever wondered what little-known and mysterious beings are living among us, just out of sight? This episode is about one such creature that most Californians have no idea even exists.   Join me, Dave Wyatt, and Kristyn Schulte as we discuss clever little foxes, oak mistletoe, the floor is lava, dissolved poop, the smallest mountain range in the world, tasty taxidermy, classroom design, convergent evolution, weasel lemurs, and a whole lot more.  Links:  The California Ringtail Project Mistletoe toxicity Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.  My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.  Get podcast Merch.  Subscribe to the GSN email newsletter. Episode cover photo by Dave Wyatt. The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.

Join me and Dr. Alexandra Syphard as we discuss what makes some neighborhoods more fire prone than others, the Santa Ana Winds, defensible space, the massive differences between fires in forested Northern California and shrubby Southern California, the pendulum swing of public opinion, ways that climate change does and doesn’t contribute to wildfires, the WUI, positive uses of abandoned Fry's electronics buildings, waxy leaves, invasive plants, and so much more. This episode is an attempt to add context for everyone struggling to comprehend the scale of the fires in Los Angeles, especially those impacted. I hope it helps. Sending love. Links: California Fire Hazard Severity Zones Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.  My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.  Get podcast Merch.  The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠. Cover art by Raquel Raclette.

Flying over San Diego, you can see them: Fingers of green extending through neighborhoods all across the city.  San Diego’s urban canyon’s serve as refuges for people and wildlife alike, but they’re also often isolated islands of habitat. This can keep animals from accessing the resources they need to survive. And human neighbors aren’t always able to access these spaces, either.  In this episode, join me and Michelle Thompson as we search for reptiles in one of San Diego’s urban canyons, discuss what makes canyons special, and explore how the San Diego Natural History Museum is setting the foundation for the long-term health of these spaces.  Links: Healthy Canyons Initiative Go on a FREE hike with the Canyoneers  Want to help SD canyons? Email Michelle Thompson at: [email protected]  1988 Michael Soulé Study  Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.  My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.  Get podcast Merch.  The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠. Episode cover photo provided by The San Diego Natural History Museum. 

What do oak trees, goldenrod, willows, and ceanothus all have in common? They all belong to the group of roughly 14% of plants supporting 90% of caterpillar species.  In other words, they’re all keystone plants.  Join me and Doug Tallamy as we discuss the vital role these plants play in their native ecosystems and how we can bring them home to welcome hundreds of species into our own yards.  Helpful Links: Doug’s books  Calscape by The California Native Plant Society Keystone Plants in Mediterranean California (National Wildlife Federation Resource)  Homegrown National Park Map Article: “The Illusion of a Trillion Trees” Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.  My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.  Get podcast Merch.  The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠.Episode cover photo by Parker Sturdivant.

What do fake rattlesnakes, California ground squirrels, odd eye bones, bubonic plague, bizarre choices in home decor, and regurgitated mouse bones have to do with burrowing owls?  Join me and Phil Unitt as we venture into an urban canyon in San Diego to find out.  Helpful links: Phil Unitt’s page Rattlesnake owl noise Urban Burrowing Owls piece by Clinton Abbott Fish and Wildlife page on burrowing owls Secretary Bird video Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.  My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.  Get podcast Merch.  The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠. Episode cover photo by Ray Hennessy

The sea is rising, and I have a lot of questions. Questions about sand movement, seawalls, nature-based climate solutions, ecosystem engineer plants, sand dunes, climate literature, and how we can harness the power of our collective imaginations to adapt to a changing world together. Join me and environmental reporter Rosanna Xia at Point Dume in Malibu as we discuss my many questions and explore a beach that's been reimagined with the future in mind. Links: ⁠Become a Heyday Member⁠ and receive a free copy of Rosanna’s book, California Against the Sea, when you add the code GOLDEN to the “How did you find us” section.  ⁠Grist’s climate fiction reading list⁠.  Learn more about the Embarcadero from this ⁠Exploratorium walking tour⁠.  Read more about ⁠Seattle’s living seawall⁠.  Support Golden State Naturalist on⁠ ⁠Patreon⁠⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠.  My website is⁠ ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠⁠.  Get podcast ⁠Merch⁠.  The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found⁠ ⁠here⁠⁠.Photo Credit ⁠Nikoloz Gachechiladze⁠

It's fall! And all around the country, tidy piles of raked leaves rest on the corners of lawns, ready to be bagged up and thrown away. But throwing away leaves means throwing away free mulch and fertilizer. It also means throwing away habitat and belching methane into the atmosphere. Join me and National Wildlife Federation naturalist David Mizejewski as we discuss the benefits of leaving the leaves, the harms of removing them, and the kind of abundance we can buoy right outside our doors by embracing the natural habitat building opportunities all around us. Learn more about leaving the leaves. Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.  My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.  Golden State Naturalist Merch

How is the story of tule elk tied to the story of California? What’s the difference between a grazer and a browser? Why do tule elk have such big feet? How much grazing is the right amount of grazing? Why do elk bugles sound like something straight out of a horror movie?   Come with me and Orlando Rocha as we strike out in search of tule elk in the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, and then join me and Tom Batter as we discuss the ecological importance of tule elk along with the ties between their story and the story of California.  Historic range of California elk subspecies Current (2017) range of California elk subspecies Read more about Henry Miller, “the cattle king of California” Thank you so much to Steve Shepard of The Natural Curiosity Project podcast for sharing the elk bugle audio.  Tule Elk photo by Katie Booth / National Park Service Support Golden State Naturalist on ⁠Patreon⁠ and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on ⁠Instagram⁠.  My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠.  Merch  Listen next: ⁠Central Valley Water and Wetlands with Ellen Wehr⁠ 

Did you know that California's Central Valley once contained a vast inland sea and was home to camels,  400 lb. saber-toothed salmon, and tiny four-tusked mastodons? Or that, just a couple of hundred years ago, it was a network of wetlands, peat bogs, riparian forests, and shallow lakes? So how did this place that was once so defined by an abundance of water become somewhere marked by water-related controversy?  Come along with me and Ellen Wehr as we discuss the history of this remarkable Valley, the wetlands that remain, and what we can do to both protect and coexist with the many species that still call the Central Valley home today.  Links:  Fossils!  NatGeo on Estuaries  NOAA Life in an Estuary  Native Tules  Nisenan Tribe  Sinking Central Valley  Wetlands of California's Central Valley (cool interactive map)  You can find me on Instagram and Tiktok @goldenstatenaturalist My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com MERCH  The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find it and the Creative Commons License here. 

Some animals plod across roads without hesitation. Others dart across quickly, while still more freeze at the sight of an oncoming car. A final group avoids roads altogether. Four distinct approaches, yet roads can have devastating impacts on animals regardless of their type of response.  Thankfully, wildlife crossings can help.  Join me and award-winning author Ben Goldfarb as we explore a fragment of old growth oak woodland, discussing how roads impact the environment and imagining a future that’s safer and more connected for humans and wildlife alike.  Make sure to check out Ben’s book, Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet, available just about everywhere books are sold. If you’d like to buy Crossings from The Bookery in Placerville, you can reach out to Heather and Darin via DM on Instagram @bookeryplacerville or give them a call at (530) 626-6454. If you’re quick, you may even get a signed copy! They also carry Ben’s first book, Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why they Matter.  Helpful Links:  Ben’s Website California Crossings Map by the Wildlands Network  Report roadkill hotspots with CROS (California Roadkill Observation System)  Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on Instagram.  My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com.  Bird song recordings are from Xeno-Canto. The western bluebird recording, XC237281, is by Denise Wright, and the Creative Commons license can be found here. The wrentit recording, XC408459, is by Frank Lambert, and the Creative Commons license can be found here.  by John Carrel License. The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found here.

What are your top ten favorite California native species?  Join me, Griff Griffith, and Michael Hawk as we joyously compile our collective top ten list (a veritable menagerie meets botanical garden) and discuss how we can help each species.  Don’t forget to follow Nature’s Archive and Jumpstart Nature wherever you’re listening now.   Learn more about the great work Jumpstart Nature is doing on their website.  The cover photo is by Charles Hood, who is generously allowing me to use it for this episode. Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon and get perks starting at $4/month.  Follow me on Instagram.  My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com.  The theme song is called “i dunno” by grapes and can be found here. 

Are coastal wetlands the same thing as estuaries? What about salt marshes? How can some plants grow in saltwater? Can I use them to salt my french fries? What’s an endangered river? Why do some birds build floating nests? Why should I visit nature that’s close to home?  Join me and Empress Holliday as we explore the Tijuana Estuary to admire plants, gush over birds, and discuss everything from blue carbon to baby halibut. Helpful Links: ⁠Divided Together Podcast⁠ ⁠Tijuana Estuary (TRNERR) ⁠ ⁠Endangered River⁠ ⁠San Diego Coastkeeper⁠ You can find me on Instagram ⁠@goldenstatenaturalist⁠ My website is ⁠goldenstatenaturalist.com⁠ Support GSN on ⁠Patreon⁠ (and be first to know about Cafe Ohlone tickets!) The song is called "i dunno" by grapes and can be found ⁠here⁠. 

What makes California such a great spot for snake diversity? Where does antivenom come from, and why is it so expensive? Can you really inoculate yourself against snake venom? How did evolving alongside snakes impact who we are as humans today?  Join me and Michael Starkey, founder of Save the Snakes, as we get a close look at California snakes and then sit down to discuss bright blue snakes, snakes with legs, snake myths, evolutionary arms races, babysitter snakes, and how this diverse group of animals makes our lives better every single day. Links: Save the Snakes Medicines derived from snake venom GSN website Get the GSN newsletter Join the Patreon community See GSN videos on Instagram The song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can see the Creative Commons license here.

How do sea stars move around? Why am I jealous of giant green anemones? When's the best time to go tide pooling? Why is life so hard in the in the place where the ocean meets the land? How have so many creatures adapted to thrive in this strange place where two worlds meet? Join me and Michelle Kunst as we explore the intertidal zone on the Northern California coast and discuss the incredible diversity of life that can be found there. Links: Trinidad Coastal Land Trust Seaweed with Allison Poklemba Orange Cup Coral California Deep-Sea Corals Southern California Tide Pools My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com Follow me @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram and TikTok The song is called "i dunno" by grapes and can be found here.

Indigenous people have lived in the place now known as California since time immemorial and are still here today. In this episode, join me and Frank Lake as we discuss mutualistic relationships between Indigenous Californians and the land, traditional burning, oak orchards, the powerful ways Indigenous and Western knowledges can come together, common misconceptions about pre-colonial California, reciprocity, and how we can move from a mental model of scarcity to cultivating a shared abundance that leaves no one behind.  Links: Frank Lake California Indian History Curriculum Sue-Meg State Park Slavery in California Lightning safety tips My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com Support GSN on Patreon Follow me on Instagram

Have you ever noticed a bee that looked a little…different? Maybe it was a bit fuzzier than a typical honey bee, or maybe it was obsidian black, bright orange, startlingly large, or as tiny as a gnat. Chances are, if you’ve seen a bee meeting any of these descriptions, you observed one of Earth’s 20,000 species of native bees (with around 1,600 of those species living in California).  Join me and National Geographic Explorer, TEDx speaker, and community scientist Krystle Hickman as we head outside to find native bees and discuss the widely varied social lives of bees, bee architecture, whether or not honeybees are an invasive species, buzz pollination, where to find native bees near you, the potential of native bees in agriculture, and the importance of these beings not just to humans, but to entire ecosystems. Follow Krystle @beesip on Instagram Krystle's website Native Bees of the Western United States (cards) My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com Find me on Instagram @goldenstatenaturalist ⁠Article⁠ on honey bee pollination outcomes compared with native bees. The song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and the Creative Commons license can be found here.

Author, artist, poet, and eco-philosopher Obi Kaufmann doesn't want to craft a better argument. He wants to tell a better story. But what does that kind of story look like? How do we begin to convey the incredible complexity of a place like California? How do we avoid unproductive divisiveness, embrace a better worldview, and move forward together in healing the land? Join me and Obi in a field of wildflowers on Mt. Diablo as we discuss humanity’s relationship with the earth, Mt. Diablo daisies, ways in which meaning is co-constructed, biodiversity, what a myth really is, very quiet lions, how we relate to place, and how telling a better story about this land we love, this place now known as California, might just help humans come together to care for it. Links: Obi's website The California Field Atlas See Obi speak Heyday Membership (add the word GOLDEN to the "How did you find us" section to receive a free bandana designed by Obi!) My website Follow me on Instagram and Tiktok @goldenstatenaturalist The song is called "i dunno" by grapes. The Creative Commons license can be found here.

Happy New Year! 🎉 This episode has a great story, so I added a new intro to tell you about it. Here are the links mentioned in the new intro! 7 Ways to Connect with Nature zine by Kate Rutter Find Kate on Instagram @katerutter. Patreon. This is a great way to support your local indie podcaster. Find me on Instagram @goldenstatenaturalist. My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com.

Have you ever wondered why we bring a toxic, parasitic plant indoors during the holidays...and then kiss under it? Or what ecological role this plant plays? Come with me and Dr. Joshua Der as we discuss the ecological importance of mistletoe, its evolution, the vast array of wildlife it supports, and of course, the ancient folklore that led to all those stolen smooches. Helpful Links: Dr. Der's Publications Mistletoe Folklore My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com Support GSN on Patreon. Find me on Instagram and TikTok @goldenstatenaturalist

When was the last time you felt truly connected with a place? Was it somewhere rugged and wild, or was it on a leaf-strewn suburban block? What did you notice? What questions popped up in your mind? What gave you that sense of connection?  In this episode, join me and Justin Garwood in a Northern California temperate rainforest as we discuss how each of us can connect more deeply with the natural world, glaciers in California, an abundance of tadpoles, when to go off trail (and when not to), and what it means to be a naturalist no matter where you may find yourself.  Links: Bird species name changes The ten essentials Grizzly Glacier The Klamath Mountains: A Natural History My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com Support the show on Patreon 🙌🏻 You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram and TikTok GSN Holiday Gift Guide The song is called "i dunno" by grapes and can be found here.

The Klamath Mountains, straddling the California-Oregon border, are a hotspot for biodiversity. But what drives the species richness of the region?  Come with me and Michael Kauffmann to a moss-covered edge of the Klamath mountains as we discuss ancient rocks, carnivorous plants, temperate rainforests, why people are a vital part of the story of place, and why the Klamath Mountains are bursting with a truly stunning array of beings and relationships.  You can find Backcountry Press @backcountrypress on Instagram. Serpentine Soils and Plant Adaptations Geologists Protest Bill to Remove State Rock My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @goldenstatenaturalist You can support GSN on Patreon for just $4/month. Check it out at www.patreon.com/michellefullner.

Is seaweed a plant? Is it ok to eat straight out of the ocean? What kinds of creatures rely on seaweed? How does kelp fight climate change? Join me and Allison Poklemba on the Humboldt coast as we descend into the intertidal zone to taste seaweed fresh from the ocean and discuss all of the questions above and more.  Helpful Links: Allison's Seaweed Resources Backcountry Press Instagram: @backcountrypress Dandelion Herbal Center IG: @dandelionherbalcenter Beach wheelchairs California Marine Protected Areas Anticancer Effects of Seaweed-Derived Bioactive Compounds Understanding Blue Carbon My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com Support GSN on Patreon! I'm @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram and Tiktok. The song is called "i dunno" by grapes. You can find the creative commons license here.

At the height of the last ice age, California condors could be found all across North America, and since time immemorial, these birds have held special cultural and spiritual significance for a number of Indigenous groups. But by the late 1980's, the last wild condor had been captured and brought into a captive breeding program. They were extinct in the wild. So what happened to these enormous scavengers to diminish their range so dramatically? How much progress has been made by the captive breeding programs? How is their cultural significance being honored today? Join me and Tiana Williams-Claussen, Director of the Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department, as we discuss what makes condors unique, their cultural and spiritual significance to the Yurok People, and the incredible program that's brought the largest flying birds in North America back to their home in the redwoods for the first time in over a century. Links! Yurok Condor Program (learn, donate, and watch the condor cam!) Yurok Ancestral Territory Map of Yurok Lands My website is: goldenstatenaturalist.com (find show merch and blog there!) You can find me on Instagram or Tiktok @goldenstatenaturalist The song is called "i dunno" by grapes and can be found here.

Have you ever wondered about things outside your window--the things that go bump in the night? Or, actually, things that flutter, flap, tread softly, swim, or bloom in the night? Because there’s a whole nocturnal world out there that most of us are missing, and it’s actually not as hard or as scary as we might think to go out and see it for ourselves.  In this episode, switch on your headlamp, and come with me and Charles Hood to the Cosumnes River Preserve, where we discuss vampire bats, nocturnal ocean migrations, night-blooming native plants, potoos, moths with 13-inch tongues, and how to venture safely into the night so you can see all of this and more for yourself.  And, if you celebrate, Happy Halloween! Helpful Links: Nocturnalia (Charles's new book!) Cosumnes River Preserve Sandhill Cranes California Turkeys My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com You can find me on Instagram or TikTok @goldenstatenaturalist The song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find the Creative Commons License here.

When was the last time you looked closely at the living things right outside your front door? Have you ever gotten lost in a daisy, zoomed in on a burr clover, or watched a ladybug on a rose bush? Join me and author-illustrator Marni Fylling as we take a walk to explore the nature in her neighborhood. Along the way, learn how you can connect more deeply with the nature where you live and even cultivate more habitat that can welcome a greater diversity and abundance of life in your own yard. Helpful links: Marni's Book Benefits of Urban Trees California Invasive Plant Council Calscape.org (Learn which plants are native to your zipcode and their growing conditions) Bloomcalifornia.org (Find native plant nurseries in your area) Native Plant Finder (in case you don't live in California!) My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com (Need a cozy sweatshirt?) Support the show on Patreon (for real it helps so much!) You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram and TikTok. Marni is @marnifylling on Instagram. The song is called "i dunno" by grapes. You can find the Creative Commons license here.

Coast redwood trees reside in a category all their own. Not only are these the tallest trees in the world, but they grow in unique ecosystems–quiet, foggy places with ferns and redwood sorrel spilling everywhere you look onto the trail. In these forests, the sound of running water is never far away, and the redwoods themselves are by far the most prominent tree species, the warm hue of their bark dominating the landscape as they tower over the evergreen huckleberries and red-flowering currants below. In this episode, join me and edutainer and lifelong conservationist Griff Griffith as we discuss marbled murrelets, the overstory and the understory, dinosaurs in the redwoods, stump sprouting, surprising historical champions of the redwoods, the wood wide web, and of course these iconic trees of California themselves. Links: Redwoods Rising Redwood Facts Laura Mahan What is old growth? Find Griff on Facebook or TikTok @Griffwild, and find his work for Redwoods Rising @RedwoodsRising on the same platforms. Go for a walk with Griff! You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram and TikTok. My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com GSN Merch The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes. You can find the link to that song and the creative commons license here.

Have you ever looked at a piece of art that altered your perspective? Or one that challenged your thinking? Or maybe you’ve studied a piece that taught you something new. How can art impact conservation efforts? How can it help break generational cycles of disconnectedness from the natural world? Why does art matter in a time of rapidly changing climate and habitat loss?  Join me and artist/scientific illustrator Jane Kim in the Ink Dwell Studio as we discuss nature blindness, the importance of place-based art, western monarch butterflies, endangered frogs, the purpose of murals, intergenerational relationships with the earth, and how both viewing and creating art can change the way we look at the world and the kinds of choices we make going forward.  Ink Dwell (You can also find Jane on Instagram @inkdwell) Why Diverse Teams Are Smarter Golden State Naturalist (my website) Podcast Merch You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram and TikTok Podcast art by Danza Davis, @danzadavis on Instagram. The song is called "i dunno" by grapes. You can find it here.

Have you ever wondered if the plants growing along your favorite trail or outside your door are edible? Or what kinds of flavors might not be available at the grocery store? Many of us aren't familiar with the tastes of the places where we live, even though there are wild foods growing all around us. Join me and author, educator, and forager Mia Andler on a walk beside the Truckee River to learn about the wild foods of California and beyond. Links: Mia's website Mia's Books California's Forgotten Pine Nuts Pine Needle Tea Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon! My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram and TikTok. The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes. You can find the song and creative commons license here.

Do bats live close to my house? Why are they important? Do they have rabies? How can people help take care of urban wildlife? How can we involve more people in conservation and community science, particularly people from historically excluded groups? Come with me and Miguel Ordeñana to Griffith Park in Los Angeles, where we discuss all of this and so much more. Links: Bat Motherhood Benefits of Bats CDC Page on Human Rabies National Science Foundation STEM Diversity Report NHMLA's Community Science Projects LA Times article on lead removal project Jaguars and Obsession for Men My website is goldenstatenaturalist.com Merch You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram and TikTok The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find it here.

Have you ever wondered what kind of wildlife lives right in the middle of your city? Or why some animals thrive in cities while others don't? And how did a mountain lion end up in Los Angeles, anyway? Join me and Miguel Ordeñana, the scientist who discovered mountain lion P-22 living in Griffith Park in LA as we discuss these questions and so many more. Links: Keeping Cats Indoors Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Safety in Mountain Lion Habitat P-22 sightings during my visit to LA P-22 Eulogy by Beth Pratt Friends of Griffith Park My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com Podcast merch! You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram or TikTok The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes.

Have you ever wanted to grow your own native plants? Where can you get California native seeds? Should you sow them directly in the ground or start them in pots? Is there anything you should do to the seeds before planting them? What time of year should they be planted? How should the soil be prepared? What are some common mistakes to avoid? What are some good plants to start with? Is this the end of the lawn as we know it? Join me and restoration ecologist Dr. Julia Michaels as we explore Hedgerow Farms, which grows native wildflower and grass seed for ecological restoration projects. In the first half of the episode, learn how native seed is produced on a large scale at the farm, and in the second half, find out how you can use native seeds to grow thriving native plants and increase the biodiversity of your own backyard. Special thanks to Alejandro Garcia, Jeff Quiter, and Manolo Sanchez for taking the time to show me around the farm! Links: Hedgerow Farms: So much California native seed! Bloom California: Find a local native plant nursery. Calscape: California native plant landscaping tool. Calflora: Database providing information on California native plants in the wild. Research on wild seeds becoming domesticated over time. Lost Beneath Lake Berryessa: More information on the Monticello Dam and the town of Monticello! Also photos by Dorothea Lange. My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @goldenstatenaturalist. Patreon support helps a ton! Check out the perks here: www.patreon.com/michellefullner The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find it here.

What is an amphibian, anyway? Are they leading double lives? What's the difference between a newt and a salamander? A frog and a toad? What kinds of amphibians live in California? Why are California newts so toxic? How do they always, always find their way home?  Join me and Gary Bucciarelli as we explore a stream in the Santa Monica Mountains, finding plentiful frogs and newts as we discuss the questions above and many more.  Links:  Map of Amphibian Diversity  Arboreal Salamanders  California Herps Gary's Website  Gary's email address is [email protected] You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on Instagram and TikTok. My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com Your support on Patreon is so appreciated!  The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find the Creative Commons License here. 

Did you know that California's Central Valley once contained a vast inland sea and was home to camels,  400 lb. saber-toothed salmon, and tiny four-tusked mastodons? Or that, just a couple of hundred years ago, it was a network of wetlands, peat bogs, riparian forests, and shallow lakes? So how did this place that was once so defined by an abundance of water become somewhere marked by water-related controversy?  Come along with me and Ellen Wehr as we discuss the history of this remarkable Valley, the wetlands that remain, and what we can do to both protect and coexist with the many species that still call the Central Valley home today.  Links:  Fossils!  NatGeo on Estuaries  NOAA Life in an Estuary  Native Tules  Nisenan Tribe  Sinking Central Valley  Wetlands of California's Central Valley (cool interactive map)  You can find me on Instagram and Tiktok @goldenstatenaturalist My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com MERCH  The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find it and the Creative Commons License here. 

What's the problem with yellow hills? How do you trick a seed? What are the neighbors angry about? Where do restorationists get all those seeds? What's the difference between ecological restoration and restoration ecology? What does reconciliation have to do with it? How can we keep the world brimming with strange and beautiful creatures? Join me and Billy Sale, Restoration Project Manager at the California Botanic Garden, as we poke around a native plant nursery and discuss all of these questions and more.  Useful Links:  California Botanic Garden Society for Ecological Restoration  Sac Valley Restoration Days  Hedgerow Article  My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @goldenstatenaturalist Imbodhi amazingly cozy and cute onesies. Use code GoldenStateNaturalist15 to get $15 off your first order.  The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes. You can find the song and the Creative Commons License here. 

Most of us live in places where we can only see a few of the brightest stars in the sky at night, but what if that didn't have to be the case? Come with me and guests Kayla Browne and Dan Duriscoe to Death Valley, where we sit under a sky full of stars to discuss light pollution, bats, migrating birds, why dark skies are important, astronomy, places you can go to see a truly dark sky, and what can be done to bring stars back to our cities and our lives.  Links:  Friends of the Inyo Dan Duriscoe Bio  International Dark-Sky Association Just. Do yourself a favor and look at this photo of Death Valley at night by Dan Duriscoe.  NPS Light Pollution Map (Look for Dan Duriscoe!)  NPS Page on Where to Stargaze International Dark Sky Places  Outdoor Lighting Basics  Tucson success story Los Angeles Sea Turtles  Kratts' Creatures infamous baby sea turtle scene  Saving the Dark Documentary  My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com Find me on Patreon at www.patreon.com/michellefullner  I'm on Instagram and TikTok as @goldenstatenaturalist  Imbodhi amazingly cozy and cute onesies. Use code GoldenStateNaturalist15 to get $15 off your first order.  The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find the Creative Commons License here. 

How useful is IQ? What exactly is a growth mindset, and how is it different from a fixed mindset? What shifts can we make in our thinking that will allow us to learn and grow in new ways? Should you take Swahili lessons? How does all of this apply to being a naturalist and nature journaler?  In this cute tiny bonus episode, come with me and John Muir Laws as we discuss all of this and more.  Links:  John Muir Laws Website John Muir Laws Books Neuroplasticity Carol Dweck's Scientific American Article My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com My Patreon is www.patreon.com/michellefullner You can find me on Instagram or TikTok @goldenstatenaturalist Imbodhi (actual best and coziest onesies for everything). Use code GoldenStateNaturalist15 to get $15 off your first order.  The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and it can be found here. 

Did you know that no pretty pictures or artistic talent are required to create a highly effective nature journal? Rather, as John Muir Laws explains in this episode, nature journaling is about paying attention, presence in the moment, and thinking more effectively about the natural world all around you. Join Jack and I on a nature journaling adventure beside the San Francisco Bay, and find out what six things should be included in a nature journal, which art supplies to use (not a specific brand!), how to experience more of the beauty and wonder all around you, what love has to do with it, and so much more. Links:  John Muir Laws Website  Wild Wonder Foundation Books by John Muir Laws My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on both Instagram and TikTok The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes and can be found here.  Imbodhi sustainable activewear. Code: GoldenStateNaturalist15

Happy New Year! Are you hoping to spend more time outdoors this year? This episode is for you! In it, I'm sharing seven of my favorite ways to connect more deeply with the natural world this year and beyond.  My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com Support Golden State Naturalist on Patreon.  You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @goldenstatenaturalist.  The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes. You can see the Creative Commons license here. 

California is home to 6,500 native plant species, including some that are truly iconic, like coast redwoods, giant sequoias, bristlecone pines, and California poppies. If you're like me, you have a lot of questions about this wide variety of plants, like: What is it that makes native plants so important? What's the difference between a native plant and an endemic one? Why are some plants more beneficial for wildlife than others? How many rare plants do we have in California? What's important to know about gardening with natives?  How can we each help increase biodiversity in our own neighborhoods and beyond? In this episode, join me and botanist Naomi Fraga from the California Botanic Garden as we discuss native plants, Global Biodiversity Hotspots, why some parts of the Mojave Desert are so wet, how to survive fieldwork in Death Valley, the swampy past of Los Angeles, and what each of us can do to ensure that the botanical richness of our state continues for generations to come.  Rare plants mentioned by Naomi:  Amargosa Niterwort  Tecopa Bird's-Beak Aphyllon Validum (rock creek broomrape)  Kelso Creek Monkeyflower  Links:  California Botanic Garden  California Native Plant Society Calflora Calscape CNPS Inventory of Rare Plants  Seven Forms of Rarity Springs and Seeps (Mojave Wetlands)  Svalbard Global Seed Vault  Native Plant Societies in North America Home Grown National Park (about) (map)  Los Angeles and Palm Trees  Outdoor Equity Groups  Disparities in Nature Loss and Access to Nature  Biodiversity Hotspots  Kids Outdoors  Support GSN on Patreon!  My Instagram and TikTok are both @goldenstatenaturalist My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com  The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find the Creative Commons License here. 

Do you want to know what some of the most experienced, most insightful naturalists in California have on their minds? You’ve come to the right place! This episode is jammed full of brilliant professors, authors, environmental directors, outdoor equity advocates, and science communicators, and they cover topics from traditional ecological knowledge and storytelling to fire on the landscape to the ethical questions around ecosystem restoration to how healing happens.  Complete List of Guests:  Greg Ira, Director of the UC California Naturalist Program José González, Keynote Speaker Rhiana Jones, Keynote Speaker Obi Kaufmann, Keynote Speaker Don Hankins, Speaker Brenda Kyle, Naturalist and lightning-round speaker Maribel Garcia, Naturalist and Participant  Justan Torres, Naturalist and Participant Jason Fareira, Naturalist and Participant Bruce De Terra, Naturalist and Participant  Links:  California Naturalist Conference Website: https://ucanr.edu/sites/2022CalNatCon/ California Naturalist Main Website: https://calnat.ucanr.edu/ Don Hankin's CSU Chico State Page (with listed publications!): https://www.csuchico.edu/geop/department/dhankins.shtml Information on Milpas Washoe Tribe Website: https://washoetribe.us/ José González's Website: http://www.josegagonzalez.com/ Obi Kaufmann's Website: https://coyoteandthunder.com/ Place & Purpose Podcast https://www.placeandpurpose.live/ My website: www.goldenstatenaturalist.com Become a Patron! www.patreon.com/michellefullner I'm @goldenstatenaturalist on both Instagram and TikTok The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find the Creative Commons license here. 

Have you ever wondered what was going on in California, oh, ten or fifty thousand years ago? About, perhaps, the social lives of saber-toothed cats, just how big giant ground sloths actually were, or the difference between a mammoth and a mastodon? Join me and Sean Campbell, Senior Paleontological Preparator at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California, as we explore what California and the world were like at the last glacial maximum.  Handy Links:  La Brea Tar Pits: https://tarpits.org/ Island Living Can Shrink Humans: https://www.science.org/content/article/island-living-can-shrink-humans Saber-toothed animals: https://www.livescience.com/54130-saber-toothed-animals.html Extremophile Microbes: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070510151916.htm Diatoms: https://diatoms.org/what-are-diatoms You can find me on Instagram or Tiktok @goldenstatenaturalist My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com  My Patreon page is www.patreon.com/michellefullner  The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and it can be found here. 

What makes butterflies so magical? They are a wonder and a delight, and I’m so excited to be diving into a full episode about what is possibly the most iconic species of butterfly in the world: Monarchs. Have you ever wondered why they’re bright orange, how far they migrate, or why they capture our collective imagination? I have! Come with me to the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary to find out more about these creatures that are as graceful as they are legendary. Links:  Monarch Joint Venture  Monarchs and The Day of the Dead  Xerces Society  Western Scrubjays are Capable of Metacognition  Store-Bought Milkweed and Pesticides  Interview with Dr. Richard Stringer  Monarchs on Eucalyptus Trees  Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History  Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary You can find me @goldenstatenaturalist on both Instagram and TikTok My website is www.goldenstatenaturalist.com You can support the show on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/michellefullner The theme song is called "i dunno" by grapes, and you can find the link as well as the Creative Commons license here.