Rewilding Earth Podcast

Summary In this episode, Julius Purcell takes us into the heart of Spain’s Sierra Morena to explore the dramatic recovery of the Iberian Lynx, once the world’s most endangered feline. We follow the story from near-extinction to a conservation success, meet the people behind the restoration project, and examine the complex relationship between rural communities, […] Read full article: Episode 160:...

Episode Summary In this episode, Julius Purcell journeys deep into the Pyrenees to explore the dramatic story of brown bears—once nearly extinct in these mountains, now at the center of a fierce cultural and ecological debate. Through vivid field reporting, interviews with conservationists, shepherds, and locals, we trace the history of Pyrenean brown bear (Ursus […] Read full article: Episode 159...

Happy Wolf Awareness Week! Julius Purcell discovered his interest in audio while training as a journalist in the Middle East. He later worked as a deputy editor at National Geographic History magazine, a role that sparked his fascination with environmental history and rewilding. Julius’s audio series for the Rewilding Institute, “WOLF, BEAR, LYNX,” looks at […] Read full article: Episode 158: Euro...

A biologist with a lifelong dedication to conservation, Sebastián Di Martino began his involvement with environmental organizations at the age of 13. He earned a degree in Biology in his native Argentina and a Master’s in Natural Protected Areas in Spain before working with the Directorate of Natural Protected Areas of the Province of Neuquén. […] Read full article: Episode 157: The Jaguar’s Path...

Trevor Ritland spent two years in the cloud forests of Costa Rica before returning to the United States to complete graduate work in documentary studies and science communication. His writing and video projects explore imperiled species, environmental mysteries, and ghost stories. Trevor lives with his wife and daughter (and their dog, Indiana Bones) in Flagstaff, […] Read full article: Episode 15...

Russ McSpadden works to protect public lands and the wildlife who call them home in Arizona and the rest of the Southwest. Before joining the Center in 2012, Russ engaged in grassroots environmental activism. He holds a master’s degree in environmental history from Florida Atlantic University. Show Notes In this episode of the Rewilding Earth […] Read full article: Episode 155: Jaguars, Justice, a...

With a Master’s degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Cape Town, Ryan Olinger is a wildlife biologist as well as an award-winning photographer and videographer. He has dedicated nearly a decade to studying a variety of species and the impact of climate change, with field experience spanning the American Southwest to Africa. Ryan’s […] Read full article: Episode 154: “The American S...

Renee Seacor is Mighty Earth’s Northeast Rewilding Director, where she oversees the campaign to reintroduce catamounts to the forests of the Northeast. Renee previously served as the Carnivore Conservation Director for Project Coyote, overseeing campaigns aimed at promoting coexistence with North America’s wild carnivore species. She has built a career in environmental advocacy, using litigation [...

Zafeer Ahmed Shaikh is an early-career conservationist from Southern Pakistan, mainly focused on initiatives dedicated to lesser-known wildlife species found in the country. He has a unique passion for the lesser-known wild cats of Pakistan. With the country’s tiger and lion populations gone, his focus shifted to the small, elusive species that still call Pakistan […] Read full article: Episode 15...

Adam Weymouth is a writer and journalist whose work has been widely published, appearing in Granta, The Atlantic, The Observer, and the BBC. Adam’s features have covered subjects as diverse as illegal cedar logging in Malawi, the politics of oil in Alaska, migration in Greece, flooding in Wales, and depopulation on the Outer Hebrides. His […] Read full article: Episode 151: Tracing The Epic Journe...

The Superior Bio-Conservancy is an ambitious plan to protect and restore the biological integrity and hydrology of the Great Lakes Region and the Laurentian Forest Province throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The conservation plan will create maps and effectively advocate for the creation of protected wildlife corridors to connect large tracts of public (Federal, State […] Read full art...

Henry has a background in ecology and conservation with a strong focus on quantitative, data-driven science and practice. He has a Ph. D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Ecology, Evolution, & Conservation Biology and nearly 15 years’ experience as a wildlife biologist and academic researcher. He is dedicated to gaining ground for prairie […] Read full article: Episode 149: R...

Bringing together a mix of comedy, ballads and love songs, Dana’s sharp wit and beautiful voice have him performing at concert halls, festivals, conventions, fundraisers and universities across the US and around the world. Dana’s music receives crossover radio play on country, rock, alternative, community, college and oldies radio stations worldwide. “Every movement has its […] Read full article:...

With books like the bestselling “The World Without Us,” a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and translated into thirty-four languages, and “Countdown,” winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, environmental journalist Alan Weisman has established himself as one of the most prophetic voices on humanity’s relationship to the Earth. For his […] Read full article: Episode 147: Ala...

Randy Hayes has been described in the Wall Street Journal as “an environmental pit bull.” He is Executive Director of Foundation Earth, an organization fostering the big rethink from the ground up to help protect the planet’s life support systems. Hayes, a former filmmaker, then founder of Rainforest Action Network, is a veteran of many high-visibility corporate accountability campaigns […] Read f...

Gregg founded Adventure Scientists in 2011 based on his passion for exploration, scientific discovery and galvanizing “the choir” to more directly participate in citizen science conservation. National Geographic named Gregg Treinish “Adventurer of the Year” in 2008 when he and a friend completed a 7,800-mile trek along the spine of the Andes mountain range, and […] Read full article: Episode 145:...

Cooper Freeman works to protect Alaska’s wildlife, lands and oceans. Before joining the Center for Biological Diversity, he worked with Alaskan Native Tribes and Tribal organizations as a strategic planning facilitator and policy advisor, was program manager and development director at the Occidental Arts & Ecology Center in Northern California, and professionally guided class V […] Read full arti...

Joaquin Murrieta-Saldivar specializes in building resilience in diverse communities by enhancing the connections between people, culture, and natural resources. He brings vast experience on the multicultural border region between the US and Mexico, where he has implemented community-based approaches to watershed management, river restoration, geo-tourism, conservation of native peoples, and best p...

Nadia Steinzor is an environmental consultant with 25 years of experience in policy analysis, research, writing, and communications. She has developed and managed projects to investigate the oil and gas industry’s impact on the climate and communities, secure governmental protections for air, water, land, and wildlife, and engage the public in advocacy efforts. Nadia works […] Read full article: E...

Since 1979, Tom Biebighauser has enthusiastically restored wetlands, lakes, streams, and rivers. He has designed over 10,000 wetland projects and successfully supervised the construction of more than 3,000 wetlands and streams in 26 states, three Canadian provinces, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan. He has a deep and long-standing concern for the environment and […] Read full article:...

Wade Crowfoot serves as California’s Natural Resources Secretary, leading efforts to conserve California’s environment and natural resources. He has served as Secretary since 2019 and advises Governor Newsom as a member of his cabinet. Secretary Crowfoot oversees an agency of over 25,000 employees spread across 26 departments, commissions, and conservancies. His agency is charged with stewarding [...

Welcome to our 2024 recap episode! This year, we’re doing something different. We’ve asked a group of our 2024 guests to come back and give updates on their work since their episodes aired. Thanks to our sponsor, Biohabitats, and to all the individual supporters of the Rewilding Earth Podcast and the Rewilding Institute! In this […] Read full article: Episode 139: Year-End Recap With 2024 Guest Up...

“It’s obvious to me that Japan [was] seeking revenge for the international humiliation caused by the Whale Wars TV series, reporting our actions against illegal whaling. But my two little boys need me more than Japan needs its revenge” – Paul Watson Special Episode: Finally released from Nuuk, Greenland prison, Paul Watson talks about Japan’s […] Read full article: Episode 138: No Surrender! Paul...

About Paul Ehrlich Paul Ehrlich is the Bing Professor of Population Studies, Emeritus, and founder of the Center for Conservation Biology at Stanford. He has carried out field, laboratory, and theoretical research on the dynamics and genetics of insect populations, the evolutionary interactions of plants and herbivores, the behavioral ecology of birds and reef fishes, […] Read full article: Episod...

Leon Kolankiewicz is Scientific Director of NumbersUSA and Vice-President of Scientists and Environmentalists for Population Stabilization. His career as a wildlife/fisheries biologist and environmental scientist spans more than 30 years, 40 states, and three countries.  He has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, Alaska Department Fish an...