For What It's Earth

Join myself, Marissa of The Art of Ecology, and permanent guest, Samantha Rebuck for a climate change mini series! Each episode we shall be chatting about climate change, our thoughts on it as scientists as well as just regular people living on this planet, and teaching each other about earth science concepts in an effort to make human-caused climate change less terrifying, more understandable, an...

Join myself, Marissa of The Art of Ecology, and permanent guest, Samantha Rebuck for a climate change mini series! Each episode we shall be chatting about climate change, our thoughts on it as scientists as well as just regular people living on this planet, and teaching each other about earth science concepts in an effort to make human-caused climate change less terrifying, more understandable, an...

Hi all! I just wanted to give a little update on season 3 of For What it's Earth and what it will be comprised of! I've got 2 mini series that will make up season 3, and I am super excited to have a guest for each mini-series! One will examine climate change from air to soil as well as how to still have hope amidst a climate crisis. The second mini-series will be much more light-hearted and will g...

To end Season 2 of For What it's Earth with a bang, I am joined by 3 previous season 2 guests for a bizarre nature trivia gameshow! Join Marissa Jacobs, Alexandra Schmidt (Soil Science), Zack Jacobs (Arborist), and Lucy McGinty (Environmental Microbiology student) as we learn more about what animals make some super terrifying noises, how flowers live their lives, where humans rank in the category...

The upcoming Summer Solstice marks a special day to me - World Giraffe Day! This day was created by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) to raise awareness about and celebrate this vulnerable and endangered species. Learn more about the solstice and why we celebrate this animal on this day! Links: One Tree Planted Laws that support Wildlife Populations African Wildlife Foundation The Art of E...

This week, I am joined by fellow educator and nature lover, Willy Villalpando, as we discuss the importance of getting outside, exploring the natural world, and to continue learning throughout the summer vacation! We talk about child development and the importance of play, having some tough conversations with kids, and how adults AND kids can learn and explore together for quality bonding time and...

May 22nd, which just passed (due to recording times), was International Day of Biodiversity! So this week, I want to highlight the amazing animals of the world, and how vital they are to the health of our ecosystems!

Right now, after all of the leaves have budded out and the flowers are starting to bloom more and more every day, we have another sign of spring - animal babies! As these babies are coming out and exploring their world, they may fall from their nest or get lost and we can play an important role in getting these wildlife babies back where they need to go. Learn how to identify baby squirrels by age...

Did you know that May is National Be Kind to Animals month? Chances are, if you're listening to this podcast, you're already an animal and wildlife-lover, yet even as caring environmental stewards, there are often animals that go unloved or are even despised (I'm looking at you invasive spotted lanternfly!). During this episode, learn about some of the 10 creepy, gross, or unloved animals and how...

This week I am joined by Arborist climber and nature-enthusiast Zack Jacobs as we chat about the observations we've made about the changes in our moods and mental well-being now that spring is officially here and the sun it out! We talk a little bit about how important it was for him to get out of the office life and enter a career outdoors, but also about some ways that everyone can make sure the...

Discover more about the incredible species that snakes are and their role in our ecosystems! We'll discuss the food chain & web, along with some cool anatomical features of the snake (such as the Jacobson's organ), and how we can be good environmental stewards by caring for these underdog-wildlife species.

As the flowers in our communities start to bloom and the first of the honeybees and bumblebees start to emerge and visit those wildflowers, let's start thinking about how we can make our own gardens and yards pollinator-friendly! Find plants native to your area that will support threatened pollinators with the National Audubon Society's Native Plant finder HERE .

Dive into the murky and wonderous wetland habitats with Wetland & Waterfowl biologist, Jess Schmit, as we take a look at the birds and animals of wetland environments, as well as how she is studying habitats of rails! We'll discuss her research project, what she hopes it accomplishes, and how people can actively conserve wetland habitats and the wildlife in them in a simple way. (Podcast episo...

This past week was Earth Hour around the world and we celebrated by turning off the lights at 8:30pm for at least one hour. During this episode, we'll talk a bit about the purpose of Earth Hour, as well as how turning off lights can reduce light pollution. We'll also take a look at how light pollution impacts animals, specifically birds, who are busy in their spring migration right now. Links: Ear...

Explore the wonderful world of orchids and how they have developed some unique adaptations to lure in pollinators. We'll also discuss some threats to local orchid species as well as some ways to support orchid conservation. Links: Orchid Conservation at Longwood Gardens

This week I am joined by Lucy McGinty for a discussion about the unseen of the biosphere - microorganisms! Lucy, my Spring 2022 intern, is currently on her way to becoming an environmental microbiologist and she sheds a little light on what that entails, and about some of her favorite bacterium, along with how they can be incredibly useful for bioremediation work! Links: Smithsonian Article about...

For Groundwater Awareness week, let's take a look at what groundwater is, how it impacts wildlife such as amphibians like salamanders, toads, and especially frogs, as well as how we can improve groundwater quality at home. Links: Water Testing with Penn State Extension Office

This week, on For What it's Earth, I am joined by soil scientist, Alexandra Schmidt, as we discuss soil health, what's so cool about it, and why gardeners should care about not just maintaining their plants, but their soil beds as well! Learn more about local extension offices, how to get your soil tested so that you can treat your gardens the way they need to be, and explore how to plant the righ...

NOTE: This episode talks about death and injured animals. Listener's discretion advised. As spring approaches, we may see more and more wildlife out and about. As we have more opportunities to observe them, we may notice animals that are injured, hurt, or alone. In this episode, I talk about when and why to rescue wildlife, as well as some tips for commonly found wildlife species. Links: The Art o...

Mid- late February is a great time to start planning your spring garden. What is missing from your garden? Where do you have some extra space? What would you like to add? How can you incorporate more wildlife-friendly plants/features into the garden space? This episode, discover the importance of wild & garden edibles in our diet, and the medicinal benefits we can gain from more than just the...

Do you love animals, nature, and all things science? Then get ready to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, a community science effort put on by Cornell Lab of Ornithology! During this episode, you'll learn how to participate in the count, how to upload your bird count data, and what scientists might do with the data. Links: eBird Participating in the GBBC in North America

This week I'm joined by Horticultural Therapist in training and gardening enthusiast, Kaitlyn Whalen, as we talk about the winter blues, how to prevent it, and the importance of using horticulture and the natural world in a therapeutic way. We talk about Alzheimer's and dementia patients, elder care, seasonal affective disorder, and more. Links: www. TheArtofEcology.com American Horticulture Thera...

How do some early season wildflowers manage to grow, even when buried in snow? For plants such as crocus, snowdrops, and skunk cabbage, it all comes down to a unique plant adaptation called Thermogenesis. Learn all about it with this episode!

Winter is a great time to get outdoors and track animals! There are so many signs of evidence, from scat & droppings, to buck rub, to bones, to footprints and more. This winter, explore the natural world around you after learning some basic tracking tips with this episode.

Welcome back to For What It's Earth!  For the first episode of season 2, learn more about winter birds, how they have adapted to survive and thrive in cold weather, and how their diets change seasonally. We'll discuss bird food, what to look for on the back of bird seed bags, and little ways to create bird feeders to support winter birds!