Rewildology

In this episode, we’re sitting with Allison Cusick, a PhD candidate at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, a founder of the Fjord Phyto Project, polar guide, and has been called a Polar Hero by Conde Nast Traveler. She also starred in Jeff Goldblum’s “The World According to Jeff Goldblum” series on Disney+. Allison and I have such a fun time covering everything including her incredibly winding pa...

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Diorene Smith, DVM, wildlife veterinarian, and the world’s leading pygmy sloth researcher. Diorene and I chat about everything currently known about pygmy sloths, how she partnered with the local indigenous community to create a successful conservation project, the current threats the species is facing, and what’s next to ensure that these mini-sized sloths...

To teach us everything corals, today we’re sitting down with Annie Lamb, an Australian coral researcher, genetics expert, and very soon-to-be PhD. Annie grew up in temperate Victoria, Australia, but always knew that she wanted to become a marine biologist “someday”. Through a very windy path, she discovered the power of genetics to answer important ecological questions and to create conservation p...

Today we’re sitting down with Mariella Superina, DVM, Ph. D., one of the world’s leading armadillo researchers. Hailing from Switzerland, Mariella’s life was forever changed when she traveled to Brazil at 18-years-old. While there, the farm’s cowboys showed her her first armadillo, and from that moment on she was obsessed. She returned to Europe wanting to consume everything she could about armadi...

Today we’re sitting down with Fernando Trujillo, PhD, river dolphin expert and founder of the Omacha Foundation in Colombia. Fernando and I discuss how dolphins arrived in the Amazon and the special adaptations they’ve evolved during their 2 million years in the rainforest, many of the discoveries Fernando has made throughout his 35-year career, the very real threats the Amazon is currently experi...

Today, we’re sitting down with Aaron Bott, a wildlife biologist and wolf expert. In the 1800s, Aaron’s family moved west to make a new life in the wild Rocky Mountains. When his ancestors first arrived in the area, wolves were thriving and represented a very real threat to the new settlers. Over the following century, wolves were removed to make room for more and more pioneer families. Fast forwar...

Join Rewildology host, Brooke Mitchell-Norman, through a deep dive into what rewilding is, what it isn’t, and successful programs that are using rewilding the correct way. See full show notes at  rewildology.com . If you’re liking the show, please hit the follow button and share with someone you think would enjoy this episode. Sharing is the best way to help the show grow! Check out the new Rewild...

In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Daniela Alarcón, marine biologist and whale expert in the Galapagos Islands. Daniela grew up in the Ecuadorian highlands and spent her childhood camping and exploring her wild home. The first time she went to the sea and started to learn more about cetaceans (whales), she knew that she wanted to become a marine biologist and study this incredible group o...

In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with Colby Brokvist, a professional adventure guide and author. Colby spent most of his childhood exploring the outdoors, and he knew that he wanted to pursue a degree in environmental sciences in college. However, when his career wasn’t following the trajectory he envisioned, he packed his bags and hiked the entire Appalachian Trail – a journey that took him...

Today we’re sitting down with Laura Marsh, founder of Nova Conservation and host of the Nova Conversations Podcast. Throughout her career, Laura experienced exploitation, overwork, and little pay, and as a solution, she founded Nova Conservation to create special eco-tours that benefited on-the-ground conservation projects through the most ethical means possible. She also started the Nova Conversa...

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Sarika Khanwilkar, founder of the non-profit Wild Tiger, a PhD student at Columbia University, and a tiger expert. Sarika discovered her passion for tigers during an internship studying human-tiger conflict in central India through TRACT, a well-known tiger conservation organization led by her aunt and uncle. She returned to the US a changed woman and decid...

Today I have a special episode for you. At the end of January, Rewildology celebrated its first birthday and in that time over 50 conservationists from multiple countries, fields, and backgrounds appeared on the show. While every person had their own unique story and life experiences, I started to notice a few themes across interviews. I’ve compiled a list of them here and wanted to share with all...

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Jenny Wong, a high-arctic adventure wildlife photographer. Jenny’s story is one of strength and challenge. She comes from a line of brave refugees that escaped from China to Vietnam and then eventually settled in Canada, where Jenny was born and raised. In school, Jenny found her passion in chemistry and biology, back when her camera was only used as a pape...

Today we’re sitting down with Alex Robillard, who’s an expert on using AI for wildlife conservation through machine learning. Don’t worry – if you have no idea how machine learning or artificial intelligence actually work, Alex breaks it all down and gives the 101-level explanation. Alex shares his story of growing up in a troubled home which forced him to spend a lot of time out in nature while p...

Today’s guest you’ve heard of but probably don’t know her full story. Remember the viral video from a few years back of a group of researchers pulling a straw out of a sea turtle's nose? Well, the woman behind the camera was Christine Figgener, Ph. D., and for this week’s episode, Brooke had the opportunity to sit down with her and explore her work from the past 15 years. Chris is a marine biologi...

If you’ve listened to the show for any length of time, then you’re well aware that Brooke loves traveling the globe and meeting the people that are dedicating their lives to saving Earth’s biodiversity. Today’s guest, Frank Garita, is one of those special people. For several days this past November, Frank guided Brooke through Costa Rica’s wild places, and they had lots of time to chat about his f...

Today’s episode is Part 3 of the Costa Rica: Life, Lava & Forests series, and our guest, Brad Nahill, is the Co-Founder and President of SEE Turtles. Brad and Brooke have a fantastic conversation about all of SEE Turtles’ initiatives, plus his story about how he found his calling by sort of falling into sea turtle work. He also openly discusses the highlights and challenges of his career. As w...

Today’s guest, Adriana Aguilar Borbon, is an Educator & Volunteer Manager at Proyecto Asis. Adriana is an integral part of the project’s mission to educate the public about the darker side of wildlife tourism and human-wildlife conflict. All the animals at their facility were either confiscated by the Ministry or injured due to coming into contact with humans. She views every interaction as an...

Today’s guest, Juan Carlos Cruz, has spent the past twelve years studying the beautiful and elusive jaguar. We chat all things jaguars, such as their relation to the more famous jaguar populations in South America, jaguars versus pumas (or mountain lions) and the difference between their ecological roles, the relationship between jaguars and sea turtles, and how Juan is working diligently to conve...

In today’s episode, you’re going to hear four amazing former guests talk about 2021 and their goals for 2022. First, you’ll hear Kayla Fratt, conservation dog handler extraordinaire. Next is Josy Cardoso, badass Naturalist Guide and hotel owner in the Galapagos. Following is Judith Wanda, the inspirational professor in Tanzania working diligently to change the conservation narrative in East Africa...

Episode 28 guest, Kayla Fratt, interviewed Brooke for an episode of the K9 Conservationists Podcast. They chat about the power of conservation travel, as well as using unconventional communication methods to ignite change. Enjoy this bonus conversation! Be sure to check out K9 Conservationists whenever you are done listening! https://k9conservationists.org/ If you’re liking the show, please hit th...

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Sasha Francis, environmental educator at Galveston Bay Foundation in Texas and former marine mammal trainer. Sasha was born in Rhode Island and knew from a young age that she wanted to pursue a career with wildlife. After an internship working with marine mammals, she knew what she wanted to do. She strived to enter the marine mammal world and worked with man...

In this episode, I’m chatting with Tom (TA) Opre, award-winning filmmaker and producer. At a fateful event in 2016, a Zambian man approached Tom and asked him to record an incredible story unfolding in his country. A chieftainess, whose people were dying from starvation, approached the man, Roland Norton, asking him to please bring opportunity to their community. For the next three years, Tom reco...

Today, I’m chatting with Kara Finkelstein, co-founder of Lekker Coffee & Watering Hole. Kara was raised in California on 20 acres with farm animals galore. Growing up, she thought she’d become a veterinarian until she realized how many sick and dying animals she’d have to deal with on a daily basis. She shifted her studies, but never lost her passion for wildlife. At the end of a backpacking t...

Today we’re chatting with two inspirational Malagasy lemur experts, Onja Razafindratsima, PhD, and Veronarindra Ramananjato. Both wonderful ladies grew up in Antananarivo, Madagascar, and found their passion for lemurs while exploring the forests of Ranomafana National Park on a trip for their school’s environmental club. They met researchers from all over the globe and their future path was set i...