Into The Bush Podcast

In this episode of Into the Bush, we’re joined by Dr. Johanna Varner—adorably known as “Dr. Pika Jo”—a pika biologist based in Colorado whose path to conservation was anything but linear. From biomedical engineering at MIT to studying one of the cutest alpine mammals on Earth, Jo shares how a wealth of curiosity, a willingness to send cold emails, and incredible women mentors have helped to shape...

What happens when curiosity leads you underground? In this episode of Into the Bush, we meet Chantira Saifimar, a conservation practitioner from Batam, Indonesia, focused on community-powered island conservation. Chantira reflects on her early roots as a girl who loved her local sea turtles and how that passion now powers conversations, education, and outreach that build a broader, deeper communit...

What happens when curiosity leads you underground? In this episode of Into the Bush, we sit down with conservation scientist Catia Canteiro to trace her unexpected path from psychology to biology—and into the hidden world of plants and fungi that quietly hold ecosystems together. From mycorrhizal networks that underpin life on Earth to the often-overlooked role of fungi in conservation, Catia invi...

In this episode of Into the Bush, we dive in (pun absolutely intended) with the incomparable Dr. Tiara Moore — a marine ecologist, founder and CEO of Black in Marine Science (BIMS), and newly minted Belize resident after a month-long wedding celebration that deserves its own rom-com. In this episode, Tiara takes us from Philly to South Carolina to UCLA, then all the way to the second-largest barri...

In this episode of Into the Bush, we head to Indonesia to meet Alifi Nisya, the only woman Program Manager at Forum Konservasi Leuser. With eight years of experience protecting her country’s biodiversity, Alifi has built her career on collaboration, bringing together communities, scientists, and policymakers to protect elephants and their rapidly shrinking habitat. Her work is both scientific and...

In this episode of  Into the Bush , Nikki and Cat sit down with the women behind a groundbreaking new study on women in conservation leadership — Angela Yang, Molly Maloy, and Nina Paige Hadley — to unpack what it really takes for women to thrive in this field. From mentorship and safe spaces to tackling systemic barriers and burnout, the study shines a light on the practical skills and cultural s...

Callie Broaddus is a Washington, D.C.-based conservationist and the founder & executive director of Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, a youth-led nonprofit working to create and support protected areas in biodiversity hotspots. She splits her time between the desk and the field, where she works with local partners in Ecuador, Colombia, and Panama to document and protect the unique biodiversity at Res...

Andrea Santy is the Program Director for XPRIZE Wildfire. She has over twenty years of experience in capacity building and managing global competitions that support scientists and nonprofits in tackling global challenges across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Previously, Andrea led internship and fellowship programs at the Smithsonian Institution where she formerly served as the Director of Progr...

Dr. Lina M Valencia is a researcher and conservationist with more than fifteen years of experience in biodiversity conservation, protected area creation and management, Indigenous territorial right protection, and capacity building of local partners. Dr. Valencia focuses on expanding Re:wild's program in the Tropical Andes by developing collaborative, inclusive, and community-based conservation in...

Dr. Christine Wilkinson (she/they) is a conservation scientist, carnivore ecologist, and science communicator at the California Academy of Sciences. Her research is focused on the social-ecological drivers of human-wildlife interactions and carnivore movement through human-dominated landscapes in Kenya and California. Broadly, Dr. Wilkinson integrates participatory community engagement, wildlife e...

Join us for part two with our co-hosts Nikki Roach, PhD, and Cat Kutz as they share experiences from their own journeys in conservation. This episode dives into mental health topics, including anxiety and depression. More about the co-hosts! Nikki (she/her) is a conservation scientist who has worked at the interface of science, policy, and communication. Nikki’s work has brought her across the Ame...

Join us for a two-part episode with our co-hosts Nikki Roach, PhD, and Cat Kutz as they share experiences from their own journeys in conservation. PSA diva cups and she-wees will be mentioned! More about the co-hosts! Nikki (she/her) is a conservation scientist who has worked at the interface of science, policy, and communication. Nikki’s work has brought her across the America’s - from wetlands i...

Angela Yang is a dedicated conservationist who has worked in wildlife conservation for more decades than she cares to admit. Her career has spanned the zoo and international field conservation worlds, with over a decade spent living and working abroad. As her career evolved, Angela discovered that her passion stems from working with local organizations, communities, and strengthening capacity, par...

Dr. Meredith S. Palmer is a behavioral ecologist and conservation technologist, who has worked for universities, governments, NGOs, and the private sector. She is currently a conservation scientist at Yale University. She has spearheaded wildlife monitoring projects across the African continent and the Americas. By leveraging emerging technologies, she works to collect “big data” that enables us t...

About KM KM Reyes is a conservation lobbyist, community organizer, and National Geographic Explorer, based on Palawan island, the Philippines. Born and raised in Australia to Filipino parents, she has lived and worked extensively in Europe, Latin America, and North Africa. She is the Co-Founder & Advisor of the environmental non-government organization, Centre for Sustainability PH Inc. Since esta...