PODCAST · science
treehugger podcast
by Michael T Yadrick
The science, practice and humans of ecological restoration. We assist the recovery of ecosystems, which promises a brighter future for human livelihoods and health as well as a just transition in a warming world.
Episodes
-
Navigating Climate Anxiety with Leslie Davenport
Come for the shifting climate stay for the complicated feelings. Climate psychologist Leslie Davenport returns to treehugger to talk about her new book, Transforming Climate Anxiety: A Workbook for Courage, Clarity, and Collective Action. We get into climate grief, joy, anger, helplessness…
more -
New Restoration Standards Reveal
The Society for Ecological Restoration has released the Third Edition of the International Principles and Standards for the Practice of Ecological Restoration, and this episode is less of a book review than a reflection on what these new Standards reveal about our profession. I explore how...
-
Ecosystems of The Mandalorian and Grogu
*Spoilers throughout. You've been warned. Michael went to see The Mandalorian and Grogu as a lifelong Star Wars nerd and Pedro Pascal fan. He left thinking about wetland tipping points, cryosphere feedbacks, and sacrifice zones - which, for this show, tracks. This episode tours four planets as...
-
Default Prescriptions with Timothy Pape & Sam Woodrich
A couple years after our first conversation on artificial intelligence and ecological restoration, I sat back down with Timothy Pape and Sam Woodrich to ask: what's actually happening now? Their new research looks at how mainstream AI chatbots generate restoration plans across North American...
-
Scapegoat with Clare Follmann
In this episode, Michael talks with environmental writer Clare Follmann about her new book Scapegoat: What the Invasive Species Story Gets Wrong (AK Press) - and yes, we are talking about invasive species again, but this time with sharper teeth. Together they question the fantasy of eradication,...
-
grove & grit restoration brief on foraging & food sovereignty
Let's explore foraging as a living, contested relationship between ecology, culture, law, and survival. Beginning with za'atar - a resilient wild thyme central to Palestinian foodways - we examine how conservation policy can criminalize cultural harvest. From there, we move briefly through...
-
grove & grit restoration brief January 18, 2026
grove & grit launches with local restoration in Hilltop, Dublin Bay oyster recovery, UN World Restoration Flagships, and an ecological reckoning on war, climate, and accountability — plus two essential upcoming reads from Emma Marris and Clare Follmann. This episode is released during the week of...
-
Forest History with Jennifer Ott
What happens when we trace the history of our forests? Not just through trees, but through people, policy, and place? In this episode, I talk with Jennifer Ott, Executive Director of HistoryLink.org, Washington's free online encyclopedia of history. Jennifer is an environmental historian, author…
more -
Urban Evolution with Liz Carlen
In this episode, Michael talks with evolutionary biologist and urban ecologist Dr. Elizabeth Carlen about how cities - shaped by war, politics, religion, and everything in between - are evolving alongside the wildlife that calls them home. Liz is an urban evolutionary biologist whose research...
-
My Head for a Tree with Martin Goodman
In this special episode, we welcome author and storyteller Martin Goodman to explore the extraordinary living story of the Bishnoi people—a community in the Western Thar Desert of India who have made protecting life, in all its forms, their deepest devotion. Three centuries ago, 363 Bishnoi...
-
Giants on New Ground with Philip Stielstra
We are joined by Philip Stielstra, founder of PropagationNation, to explore the fascinating world of coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) and giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Philip shares his inspiring journey from Seattle Tree Ambassador to becoming a leader in assisted migration,...
-
A Natural History of Empty Lots with Christopher Brown
treehugger podcast is 5 years old this month! In this episode, we sit down with Christopher Brown, author of A Natural History of Empty Lots, to uncover the stories hidden in the overlooked spaces of our cities. Christopher shares his unique perspective on urban landscapes—vacant lots, overgrown...
-
Ecosystem Monitoring with Dylan Mendenhall
In this podcast episode, the discussion dives into the complexities and nuances of ecosystem monitoring, led by the Dylan Mendenhall's deep experience and passion for the field. He emphasizes the importance of well-defined questions to drive high-quality monitoring efforts, contrasting effective...
-
medicinal weeds: rethinking integrated pest management
We explore a fresh perspective on non-native and introduced species. Traditionally viewed as pests or threats to ecosystems, some of these species offer hidden benefits that are often overlooked in conventional pest management frameworks. We dive into the complexities of integrated pest…
more -
Seed Banks and Ecological Memory
Underground seed banks, passive restoration, and ecological memory - these elements are crucial in understanding and facilitating natural recovery processes in ecosystems. We'll explore how leveraging underground seed banks, which contain dormant seeds waiting for the right conditions to…
more -
Artificial Intelligence and Ecological Restoration with Sam Woodrich and Timothy Pape
This episode delves into the integration of artificial intelligence within the field of ecological restoration. Covering a broad spectrum from the practical to the philosophical, the conversation explores the potential for AI to reshape restoration practices, the ethical considerations at play…
more -
Ecological Forestry with Seth Zuckerman and Kirk Hanson
In this episode, we're joined by two extraordinary guests, Seth Zuckerman and Kirk Hansen, who bring decades of experience and insight to the practice of ecological forestry. Their recent book, "A Forest of Your Own," serves as a comprehensive guide for forest stewards in Oregon and Washington,...
-
Restoration & Herbalism United with Natalie Hammerquist
In this episode, we delve into the world of plant medicines. Our guest, Natalie Hammerquist, a herbalist based in Washington state, shares her extensive knowledge and experience in herbalism and foraging local wild plants. Natalie's journey, rooted in a degree from The Evergreen State College…
more -
Ivyland with Toby Query
This treehugger episode meanders through Ivyland and investigates the extensive properties and uses of ivy, Hedera helix. Ivies (Araliaceae) are a diverse genus of evergreen plants native to regions spanning Europe, across central-southern Asia, and N Africa. Its botanical name is rooted in…
more -
Climate Resilience with Kylie Flanagan
Kyle Flanagan asks us how we can truly address the roots of the climate crisis, and how we can keep each other safe in the years to come—while making sure that no one gets left behind. She wrote Climate Resilience, robust with short essays edited from interviews with 39 individuals who have been...
-
Renaming a Natural History Museum with Grace Maria Eberhardt
In the early 2020s, many conservation-related organizations seem to have accelerated their promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion as well as reckoning with their racist origins. The University of Puget Sound recently made the decision to remove the name "Slater'' and give back the original...
-
Finding Justice in Novel Ecosystems with Mel Pineda-Pinto
Despite rapid environmental change, the foremost approach to ecological restoration is to find the elusive, historically-appropriate reference ecosystem as the target of ecosystem recovery. But, the emergence of novel ecosystems beckons new ecological science and political ecology as surprising...
-
How We Exist With and Amongst Each Other with Renata Kamakura
Renata Poulton Kamakura reminds us of the importance of nearby nature and the power in community that orbits around urban ecology. Renata is a PhD student at Duke University's Clark Lab, a NatureNet science fellow, and a NSF Graduate Research Fellow. Renata's current work is mostly within the…
more -
Invasive Resistance (treehugger solo)
Some species walk into our spaces, uninvited – they don't belong. They can be trees we bring from the homeland to plant, insects that show up through international trade, or fish we stock for sustenance. However, when they liberate themselves from cultivation, they are portrayed as a potential...
-
A Kids Guide to Ecological Restoration with Elise Gornish
Dr. Elies Gornish is an early career leader in the fields of arid land restoration and weed management and has published over 60 papers. Recently, she just self-published "A Kids Guide to Ecological Restoration," what she believes is the first children's book on ecological restoration. Gornish is…
more -
The Rise of Ecological Restoration with Laura J Martin
Laura J. Martin is a historian and ecologist who studies how people shape the habitats of other species. She is author of Wild by Design: The Rise of Ecological Restoration. One will also find articles of hers in journals such as Environmental History and Science as well as featured in the New…
more -
Plunging Puget Sound with Renate Rain
My guest on this show is mother and grandmother, Renate Rain. She is the convener and healer behind the Puget Sound Plungers and certified Deliberate Cold Exposure guide. Renate described herself as just a person looking for relief from chronic pain problem when she slipped into the cool waters…
more -
Healing Indigenous Landscapes through Indigenous Science with Dr. Jessica Hernandez
This is the episode where we discuss Indigenous Science with Binnizá & Maya Ch'orti' scholar Dr. Jessica Hernandez. Dr. Hernandez is a transnational Indigenous scholar, scientist, and community advocate based in the Pacific Northwest. Her work is grounded in her Indigenous cultures and ways of...
-
Rethinking Invasive with Jenny Liou
treehugger has bounced from Julia Plevin's offer "what message might invasive species have to share for you" to the Just Language invitation to pay more respect and humility to them. Now Jenny Liou leads us through a critical rethinking of invasive species. This is the episode where we tell…
more -
A Rewilding of American Letters with Dr. Laura Smith
Dr. Laura Smith is a geographer at the University of Exeter, U.K. She works across cultural geography and the environmental humanities, with research interests in ecological restoration and rewilding, the history and conservation of U.S. public lands, national parks, American literature, and...
-
Curious about Cold with Dr. Jannine Krause
Take a break from the world heating up and let's discuss our curiosity about cold. Human and more than human communities rely on a stable climate and cool, clean air and waters. My guest on this show is Dr. Jannine Krause. Dr. Krause is a naturopathic doctor, acupuncturist & host of The Health…
more -
All the Feelings Under the Sun with Dr. Leslie Davenport
This is the episode where we discuss our feelings of anxiety with climate change and building emotional resiliency with Dr. Leslie Davenport. She works as a climate psychology educator & consultant and lives here in Grit City. Her most recent book is called All the Feelings Under the Sun. Leslie...
-
Climate Disruption § Feels § Shaping Change with the Forest Adaptation Network
Which tree species impacted by climate change are we getting nervous about? This is the episode where we talk about climate disruption, our anxiety & grief as witnesses to tree loss while also coming to terms with environmental change in discussion with a few members of the Forest Adaptation...
-
Restoration for Whom, by Whom? with Marlène Elias
Treehugger podcast is celebrating two years and 10,000 downloads! Working from a foundation of feminist political ecology, Marlène Elias questions who decides the sustainability agenda and urges all of us to pay attention to the power and politics that shape the values, meanings and science…
more -
Local Oak Novela with The Lakewood Oak Protectors
It's First Lushootseed name is čaʔadᶻac aka Oregon white oak, Garry oak, or Quercus garryana. Join us on a deep dive on the intersections of urban development, environmental racism, organizing against tree loss, and the oak restoration imaginary. Oak savannas and prairies in the Willamette...
-
Recovering Lost Species with Dolly Jørgensen
Absence of species we feel belong in our lives gives rise to powerful emotions. "It's the feeling of environmental lost-ness and the potential found-ness that motivates decisions about recovering locally extinct animals," says Dr. Dolly Jørgensen, historian of the environment and technology and…
more -
Coppice & Pollard with Alex Slakie
Disrupted by enclosure of the commons and colonialism, people have had a relationship with trees via coppice and pollard for eons. This is the show where we discuss the role moditional "modern" + "traditional" methods play in ecological restoration. The methods we talk about on this episode are...
-
Mapping Abundance with Candace Fuijikane
Candace Fujikane leads us through Kanaka Maoli cartographies that articulates Indigenous ancestral knowledges via moʻolelo (historical stories), oli (chants), and mele (songs). Engaging in the art of kilo, observing laws of the natural order is based on longtime observation and recording in...
-
Forest Gardens with Chelsey Armstrong
Forest gardens look and feel different than the forests farther from home or what one normally encounters on the NW Coast. Professor Chelsey Armstrong and her colleagues refer to these forests as novel ecosystems that have no natural analog - composed of communities of species that result from...
-
Words about Weeds with Just Language
I fortuitously got mixed up with this group called Just Language. Christopher Widmaier, Danielle Bunch, Lisa Fink and Celeste Williams interrogate our language around invasive species. Join in the dialogue and effort to make our conservation language more inclusive and purge terms like "invasive"...
-
Reimagining the Elwha Restoration with Whitney Mauer
Think of this show when you are dismantling structures. The settler state reorganized the Elwha river physically and threatened the well-being of its original inhabitants for over a century. After the successful dam removals on the Elwha River, Whitney Mauer critically assesses the outcome of the...
-
Madrones with Arbutus ARME
Found on the western edge of Turtle Island, the Pacific madrone (qʷuqʷuƛəc) is the largest and most charismatic species in the family Ericaceae. It is a broadleaf-evergreen tree that is rarely dominant in our forests, but indicative of very interesting plant communities. Join me and the Arbutus...
-
Practitioners Adjusting for Climate Change with Brenda Clifton
We cope with climate variability whether we acknowledge it or not in a variety of ways. On this episode, Brenda Clifton and I discuss the intentional ways practitioners are adjusting for climate change in restoration practice. This was a recording of a session I took part in at the January 19th...
-
Restoration Decade Update with Ann-Kathrin Neureuther
Welcome to the Restoration Decade! Ann-Kathrin Neureuther recently joined UNEP as Communication Manager for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. She walks us through the Decade Strategy that will help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The new U.N. Decade will officially launch on…
more -
Bridging Medicine Systems with Dr. Nicole Redvers
Dr. Nicole Redvers endeavors to integrate Indigenous and culturally-appropriate medicine into Western medical practice. If healing our relationship with land is key to revitalize traditional health and wellness, could ecological restoration become a public health strategy for the future? Native...
-
Blue Butterfly Revival with Robert Michael Pyle
Dr. Robert Michael Pyle is a biologist and writer who has worked in conservation biology around the world. While the Xerces Blue butterfly disappeared in the early 1940s, in its honor Bob founded the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Contrary to the popular conservation cliché,...
-
Anticipating Future Environments with Shana Lee Hirsch
Shana Lee Hirsch investigates the Columbia River Basin of the past, the present and the sociotechnical imaginaries of the River in her new book. In this episode, we discuss emerging approaches to restoration and getting in right relationship with climate change. Last summer, UW Press published...
-
Microbes and the Universe with Jacob Mills (1 Yr Reunion Show)
A lot has happened in the past year since we first discussed microbiome rewilding with Jacob Mills. At this reunion, we chat about building our immune system, rewilding greenspaces equitably, cultural restoration, decolonizing science and restoration, and updates on Jacob's research to restore...
-
The Green Amendment with Maya van Rossum
Think you have a right to a healthy environment? You don't. Green Amendments For the Generations, led by Maya van Rossum, has been working to establish rights of all people to clean water and air along with a stable climate in our state constitutions. Elevating the environment on par with free...
-
China Goes Green with Yifei Li and Judith Shapiro
As liberal democracies fail to address environmental problems, what solution does the Chinese model offer? China Goes Green is a new book that peers under the hood of the authoritarian state's ambitions to pursue "ecological civilization." Chinese scholars Yifei Li and Judith Shapiro join me to...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does treehugger podcast have?
treehugger podcast currently has 67 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is treehugger podcast about?
The science, practice and humans of ecological restoration. We assist the recovery of ecosystems, which promises a brighter future for human livelihoods and health as well as a just transition in a warming world.
How often does treehugger podcast release new episodes?
treehugger podcast has 67 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to treehugger podcast?
You can listen to treehugger podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts treehugger podcast?
treehugger podcast is created and hosted by Michael T Yadrick.
URL copied to clipboard!