Natureversity Podcast

In this episode we’re discussing the secret life of the pecan tree, a true gem of our Texas and American landscape! We’ll dive into its history, usage and everything there is to know when wanting to learn all out our state tree of Texas.

This episode explores the fascinating life of raccoons, covering their biology, behavior, diet, habitat, reproduction, and interactions with humans. Listen to discover interesting facts and insights about these clever creatures, emphasizing their unique characteristics and the challenges they face in different environments.

In this episode of the Natureversity Podcast, we delve into the fascinating world of the Hackberry tree ( Celtis laevigata ), exploring its rich history and significance in Texas ecosystems. Listeners will learn about the ecological importance of hackberries, their adaptability in diverse environments, and their role in supporting local biodiversity. Join us as we celebrate the hackberry's meaning...

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of Texas Armadillos ! Join us as we explore their unique behaviors, habitats, diets and more. We'll discuss the intricacies of armadillo family life, including the adorable journey of their babies. Additionally, we’ll take a step back in time to uncover their prehistoric origins and how they’ve adapted to thrive in the Lone Star State. Whether y...

James Michael is an outdoor guide and wilderness survival skills instructor based out of Cortland, New York. He is one of the many instructors who teach outdoor skills to children and adults at Lime Hollow Nature Center. Listen as he talks about how he became a wilderness guide and what it takes to inspire others with tracking, storytelling, making tools and so much more.

Jamie Shelton is the owner of Fossil Quest, a blog and store dedicated to all Texas Fossils. Jamie uses her passion to help others learn all about what lifeforms used to live here in Central Texas during the Cretaceous Period as the Programs Chair for the Paleontological Society of Austin. She is also an artist working in various mediums of silk, metal and glass and a professional bellydancer who...

David Cook is an author, presenter, photographer and the curriculum coordinator for the Capital Area Master Naturalists. David helps organize the training classes for all new CAMN members. He also assists with booking training class locations and speakers. David serves as primary face of CAMN for all new trainees. Listen as he discusses his background and what drove him to become a passionate natu...

Tom Elpel is a practitioner of outdoor skills, author and the owner of Green University based out of Montana. Tom has spent his entire life studying plants, survival skills and homesteading. Listen as he talks about what inspired him to become a naturalist, an inspirational author and outdoor guide.

Jason Sabala is an entrepreneur and local Austin advocate for health, fitness and pushing yourself out of your comfort zones on a daily basis. He is the founder of the Lumber Society, an organization dedicated to providing an opportunity to adults who may have missed out on all the wild adventures growing up as a kid. Jason is also the founder of Squatch Frontier Fitness that focuses on more than...

Melinda is the co executive director of Austin Youth River Watch, a non profit organization based in Austin Texas that combines peer mentoring with intensive environmental education, and engage youth through nature-based and experiential service-learning programs in environmental science. Listen as Melinda sits down to chat about rivers, getting kids outside, how AYRW works for families and why ge...

Shelia Hargis is the organizer of the Purple Martin Parties here in Austin Texas run through the local Travis Audubon Chapter for birding. Listen as she describes how she discovered the joy of birding and why everyone should put on their bucket list, the Purple Martin Party in Austin.

Shannon Brown is the founder of Ecosystem Regeneration Artisans (ERA) Landscapes based out of San Marcos Texas. ERA was built to help unite talented land stewards on outdoor projects that help realize the vision of creating healthy ecological communities. Listen as Shannon tells her story of how she discovered her passion for healing the land after her local wetland and forest playground was destr...

Nicole Netherton is the executive director for the Travis Audubon, an organization dedicated to conserving wildlife habitats and the ecological balance necessary for healthy, sustainable, and habitable communities. Listen to her story of how she discovered birding through a trip to Antartica where she found her passion for environmental stewardship and sharing nature with others.

Ginger Webb has been practicing herbalism for nearly 30 years, as a community herbalist, clinical herbalist, herbal medicine maker, teacher, wild plant lover, botanist, and teacher. She makes and sells herbal medicine through her company Texas Medicinals, and has trained scores of people to be herbalists through her programs at Sacred Journey School of Herbalism. Listen as she talks about all thin...

Isaac is the found of Nurture Nature Within based out of Galveston Texas. NNW offers the opportunity for individuals or groups to reconnect with themselves through nature in a way that supports healing and growth using tools and practices from the combined experience of Nature Guides, Survivalists, and the teachings of the Kripalu Mindful Outdoor Leadership program. Listen as he tells his story of...

Sarah Coles is the Executive Director of the Texas Children in Nature Network. She has been working within the informal education system for almost two decades. Listen as she describes how working at an institution focusing on EcoHistory (the study of how humans have adapted and influenced their environment), brought her to sharing her passions for reconnecting children and families with nature at...

Widely regarded as one of the country's foremost educators in Stone Age living skills, David is a frequent lecturer, author, songwriter and consultant on primitive technologies, edible/medicinal plants, and pre-Columbian culture. He served for 18 years as head instructor at BOSS and was education director of Anasazi, a wilderness program for teens. David has served as a consultant for products suc...

Author and songwriter Robin Blankenship is the owner and director of Earth Knack and has been working in the outdoor education field since 1978. Robin has been an instructor for Larry Dean Olsen, National Outdoor Leadership School, Outward Bound and a multitude of primitive skills gatherings across the country. She is also the founder of Creston Charter School in Colorado.

Angel Schatz radiates passion for understanding the ecosystem of central Texas and making mycology education accessible to anyone who shares interest. She is the education and outreach specialist for the Central Texas Mycological Society based in Austin Texas. Formally an experience designer and animator in the tech world, she hopes to inspire more people dial into the wood-wide-web by offering cl...

Layla is community tree planter with TreeFolks based out of Austin Texas. TreeFolks is dedicated to empower Central Texans to build stronger communities through planting and caring for trees. Listen as Layla discusses the history of TreeFolks as well as how they're helping get people outside by cultivating a community of passionate nature lovers.

Tim Smith is the owner and founder of Jack Mountain Bushcraft School in Masardis, Maine on the banks of the Aroostook River. Tim is an avid outdoorsman and has been a Certified Maine Guide for over 23 years. He's been on numerous shows about survival as well as written books, blogs and articles on the world of wilderness living skills. Hear his story and more on this week's episode of the Natureve...

Tammy is the owner of Hamilton Pool Farm & Vineyard located in Dripping Springs Texas. HP Farm & Vineyard is dedicated to restoring the land by increasing soil fertility and the interconnection of all life on the farm, from people to animals to insects to plants to soil microbes. HPFV offers classes for children in ways of gardening, nature connection and living with the land. Listen as Ta...

Braden is a certified Xchange Guide and nature connection facilitator whose been working in the field for over a decade. He is the founder of 'Work Shift' which is dedicated to bringing corporate folks to the outdoors to benefit their health, focus, and productivity. Braden also runs Fire Scouts here in Austin which is an after school program dedicated to showing youth how to thrive inside the woo...

Melissa is the Greenhouse Manager at Tillery Street Plant Company located here in Austin TX. Tillery is dedicated to the sale and propagation as well as the education of a wide variety of homegrown heirloom herbs and vegetables, perennials and annuals, cold hardy cactus, Citrus, and trees. Listen as she discusses all things plants and gardening during this hour long chat with Natureversity.

Dave has been a soap maker for over 25 years. He's been a teacher at wilderness and primitive skills gatherings such as Wintercount and Rabbitstick since 2013. Listen as Dave discusses the gatherings, soap making history and how making soap brought together his community within the gatherings.