The Backyard Naturalists

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie take a fresh look at Project Pan , a social media trend encouraging people to use up every last bit of the products they already own before buying more. What starts with makeup and toiletries opens into a bigger conversation about mindful consumption , reducing waste, saving money, and making more environmentally responsible choices i...

In this popular encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie team up with Chris to tackle a timely spring topic: how to clean up your yard in ways that support birds, pollinators, and other backyard wildlife. From scrubbing bird feeders and bird baths to preparing bird houses for nesting season, they share practical, easy-to-follow tips for creating a healthier habitat just as mi...

  This week on The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and Chris talk birds, snow, and some seriously giant wildlife. After sharing observations from the Great Backyard Bird Count and recent winter weather in the Carolinas, the conversation turns to a big topic, literally. From  blue whales and African elephants to ostriches , whale sharks , ravens , and giant owls, the team explores some of th...

Think you know your nature facts? Think again! In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie revisit one of their most entertaining and eye-opening shows—a fast-paced true/false nature quiz led by Chris that's packed with surprising science and plenty of laughs. From the important role squirrels play in reforesting our forests to the age-old question about whether earthwor...

In this encore episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie revisit their inspiring conversation with certified forest therapy guide and author Melanie Choukas-Bradley to explore the healing power of forest bathing , also known as shinrin-yoku. Originating in Japan in the 1980s, this mindful practice invites us to slow down, unplug, and fully immerse ourselves in the sights, sounds, sce...

What does it really mean when we say a snake "slithers"? In this fascinating (and often hilarious!) episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie welcome back their most frequent guest—snake enthusiast Jay Bell—to explore the science behind snake locomotion . As it turns out, "slithering" barely scratches the surface. From serpentine and concertina movement to the gravity-defying climb o...

Every February, bird lovers around the world step outside, look up, and become citizen scientists, and in this episode of  The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie invite you to join the fun! We're diving into the latest results from the  Great Backyard Bird Count , a worldwide citizen-science event that started in 1998 and has grown into a truly global celebration of birds, data, and discover...

Winter weather in the Carolinas doesn't come around often, but when it does, it gets everyone talking, including the birds. In this episode, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris share firsthand stories from a week of ice, cold, and wildly overhyped forecasts, then turn their attention to what really matters: how winter weather impacts the wildlife right outside your door. From birds flocking to feeders ahead...

Zoos have come a long way—and in this episode of The Backyard Naturalists Podcast , Debbie and Laurie kick off their first recording of 2026 by exploring just how different modern zoos are from those many of us remember as kids. From concrete enclosures to expansive, naturalistic habitats, today's zoos play a vital role not only in animal care, but in global conservation. Joining the conversation...

What was it really like to raise a family in the Alaskan wilderness with little money, no indoor plumbing, and nature as both neighbor and teacher? In this unforgettable episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and Chris sit down with Laurie's mom, Joe, who shares firsthand stories of raising four children on a remote Alaskan homestead. From hauling water through ice five feet thick a...

As we welcome in 2026, Debbie and Laurie kick off the new year with a relaxed, behind-the-scenes conversation about nature, community, and what's ahead for The Backyard Naturalists . From skipping midnight celebrations to rethinking traditional New Year's resolutions, the discussion turns toward meaningful, nature-centered intentions, like reducing food waste, swapping non-native plants for native...

In this quick but eye-opening episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie take a closer look at the Environmental Working Group's annual Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 lists —two rankings that help consumers understand which fruits and vegetables carry the highest (and lowest) pesticide residues. Whether you shop for your family, your backyard wildlife, or even your parrots (as both Debbie a...

In this eye-opening episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie sit down with Benjy Strope , Private Lands Management Biologist for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission , to explore the sneaky, persistent, and surprisingly complex world of invasive plants . Inspired by Benjy's article "Quiet Invasives," this conversation gets right to the root of how invasive species spread...

In this festive episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie dig into a holiday-season debate that comes up year after year: Should you buy a real Christmas tree or an artificial one? The answer may surprise you and it definitely has more to do with nature, sustainability, and even family traditions than you might expect. Debbie and Laurie compare the environmental impacts, benefits, dr...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , we're revisiting a fan-favorite conversation with wildlife expert, naturalist, and author Stan Tekiela, a flock-level guest whose knowledge always leaves us wide-eyed and amazed. In this encore episode, Stan takes us on a deep dive into the remarkable world of animal adaptations , exploring how species survive, evolve, and thrive through millions of years of...

In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie welcome back "Flocker" and trusted friend of the show, Ruby Davis of NC Wildlife Rehab , for a rapid-fire myth-busting session about what to do when you encounter wildlife in your own backyard. From possums playing dead to raccoons out in the daytime, baby bunnies hidden in plain sight, fallen squirrel nests, mysterious fawns, mangy f...

In this encore presentation of The Backyard Naturalists , hosts Debbie Foster and Laurie Horne revisit one of the most important conversations of Season 2 — their discussion with Dr. Kelly Oten, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist at NC State University, about the invasive and destructive Spotted Lanternfly. This brightly colored but harmful insect has become a serious concern for North C...

Even the most dedicated backyard bird lovers sometimes run into trouble, empty feeders, spoiled seed, or disappearing birds. In this episode of  The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie, Laurie, and producer Chris roll up their sleeves to help listeners troubleshoot their bird-feeding setups. From moldy seed and filler-heavy mixes to misplaced feeders and seasonal slowdowns, they cover the small details...

This week on The Backyard Naturalists , we're revisiting one of our most popular and seasonally fitting episodes, "We're Talkin' About Pumpkins!" Originally aired in October 2021, this encore favorite is the perfect listen for fall. Join Debbie and Laurie as they explore the fascinating world of pumpkins, from surprising agricultural facts and record-breaking gourds to their valuable role in suppo...

In this week's episode of The Backyard Naturalists , Debbie and Laurie take listeners on a fascinating update tour of several topics previously featured on the show, all of which continue to evolve in the natural world. From hopeful signs of recovery to growing ecological concerns, this episode is packed with new developments and ways for citizen scientists to get involved. You'll hear encouraging...

As the seasons turn and the air gets crisp, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris are diving into everything fall for your wildlife habitat! In this episode of The Backyard Naturalists , the team explores how to make the most of autumn's natural bounty, especially those fallen leaves. Should you rake them up, blow them away, or just "leave the leaves"? The answers might surprise you. Drawing from new data fro...

If you've ever dreamed of turning your backyard (or even your balcony!) into a haven for butterflies, this episode is for you. Debbie and Laurie welcome Pamela Grundy — historian, writer, and passionate butterfly gardener from Charlotte, North Carolina — to share her journey into creating thriving butterfly gardens and inspiring others to do the same. Pamela explains the simple but powerful differ...

The Backyard Naturalists are back for Season 5! In this special anniversary episode, Debbie, Laurie, and Chris take a fun walk down memory lane to celebrate over four years, 200+ episodes, and more than 106,000 listens across all 50 U.S. states and 137 countries. From their very first kitchen table recording during COVID to becoming a Saturday morning routine for listeners around the world, the te...

🕷️ What's big, colorful, and showing up in backyards across the Southeast? Debbie and Laurie are diving into the world of Joro spiders, and trust us, this is one episode you won't want to miss! From their eye-popping golden webs to their wild habit of "ballooning" through the air as babies, these spiders are making quite an entrance in the Carolinas (and beyond). Are Joro spiders scary invaders, o...

In this episode, Debbie and Laurie sit down with Kristen Rhodes , an organizer with the North Carolina Conservation Network (NCCN) , to explore the power of grassroots action in protecting our state's environment. Kristen introduces NCCN as a statewide network of more than 60 environmental and justice organizations , all working collaboratively to safeguard North Carolina's natural resources and p...